SOLID-LIQUID PHASE EXTRACTION OF THORIUM (IV) FROM NITRATE LEACH LIQUORS USING AMINE FUNCTIONALIZED GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE RESINS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Nuclear Materials Authority, Cairo , Egypt

Abstract

Thorium adsorption from low concentration nitrate leach liquors was studied using glycidyl
methacrylate/divinyl benzene/amine polymers. RI and RII resins were prepared by the reaction of GMA/
DVB copolymers with ethylenediamine and diethylenediamine, respectively. The thermal stability of
the resins was studied thermogravimetrically. The prepared resins were applied for the adsorption of
thorium from synthetic and real samples. The results indicated that; the adsorption of Th(IV) increased as
the solution pH increased and the maximum metal adsorption was 50 and 64 mg/g for RI and RII,
respectively. Thorium (IV) adsorbed per mass unit of RI and RII resins increased from 50 to 64 and from
66 to 88 mg/g by increasing the temperature from 293o to 323o K respectively. The obtained results
indicated the applicability of RI and RII for Th(IV) adsorption. Finally, RI and RII resins were used
for the separation of Th(IV) from three granite samples leach liquors.