Thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) sorption studies on octacarboxymethyl- C-methylcalix[4]resorcinarene impregnated on a polymeric support

Abstract

The impregnation of octacarboxymethyl- C-methylcalix[4]resorcinarene into a polymeric matrix, Amberlite XAD-4, is reported and was characterized by infrared spectroscopy. The sorption capacity of the impregnated resin is 0.34×10 −3 mol g −1. The resin was used for the sorption of thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) from aqueous solution. The properties of capacity, pH effect, and breakthrough curves of the impregnated resin were investigated. The capacity of the resin for Th(IV) and U(VI) was found to be 0.29 and 0.27×10 −3 mol g −1, respectively. The metal ions were eluted with 0.4–2 M HCl or HNO 3. Chromatographic separation of Th(IV) and U(VI) was accomplished by adjustment of pH to 3.0 and 6.0, respectively. The impregnated resin exhibits a high chemical stability, reusability and fast equilibration. Separation of Th(IV) and U(VI) from other metal cations in synthetic solution was achieved.