Preparation of macroreticular chelating resins containing dihydroxyphosphino and/or phosphono groups and their adsorption ability for uranium

Abstract

AbstractThe macroreticular chelating resins (RSP, RSPO, RCSP, and RCSPO) containing dihydroxy‐phosphino and/or phosphono groups were prepared and their adsorption capacity for UO22+ and the recovery of uranium from sea water were investigated. RSP and RCSP were prepared by phosphorylation of macroreticular styrene–divinylbenzene copolymer beads and the chloromethylated copolymer beads, respectively. RSPO and RCSPO were prepared by oxidation of RSP and RCSP, respectively. The order of recovery of uranium from sea water with these four resins is as follows: RCSPO ⋍ RCSP > RSPO > RSP. The adsorption of uranium in sea water was not only affected by the chemical structure, but also by physical structure of the resins. Uranium absorbed on the resins was eluted with 0.25 ∼ 1 mol·dm−3 Na2CO3 or NaHCO3 solution by batch and column methods. The average recovery ratios of uranium from sea water with Na‐form and H‐form RCSP on 10 recycles were 84.9% and 90.5%, respectively, when 20 dm3 of sea water was passed through the column (resin 4 cm3, 10 mm ϕ × 50 mm) at the space velocity of 60 h−1. RCSP has a high physical stability and resistance against acid and alkali solution.