Separation and concentration of lead, uranium and copper using polystyrene resins functionalised with azobenzylphosphonic acid ligands

Abstract

Two polystyrene resins functionalised with azobenzylphosphonic acid ligands were synthesised and applications for the concentration, separation and determination of micro- or milligram concentrations of metal ions were studied. Physical and chemical properties such as specific mass, water content and ion-exchange capacity were measured and the characteristics of the resins were examined. The resins were especially useful for the concentration of Pb^II, U^VI and Cu^II by batch and column operations, and effective separations of Pb^II from Group VIII and IIB ions could be achieved by selecting the eluents. Trace amounts of Pb^II, U^VI, Cu^II, Mn^II, Zn^II and Fe^III were quantitatively retained on the resin columns at neutral pH and easily recovered by elution with 2 M HCl and 2 M HNO₃. The resins were successfully applied to the concentration of trace amounts of metals in river and sea waters prior to spectroscopic determinations.