Equilibrium and kinetic studies of selective adsorption and separation for strontium using DtBuCH18C6 loaded resin

A crown ether loaded resin was prepared by successive impregnation and fixing the 4′,4′(5″)-di(tertbutylcyclohexano)-18-crown-6 (DtBuCH18C6) and its molecule modifier, 1-dodecanol, onto the porous silica/polymer composite support (SiO ₂-P particles). The characterization of DtBuCH18C6 loaded resin was examined by thermal gravimetry and differential thermal analysis and electron probe microanalysis. The adsorption behavior of Sr(II), Cs(I), Ru(III), Pd(II), La(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Gd(III), Zr(IV), and Mo(VI) was investigated by the batch method. Furthermore, the column test for Sr (II) was performed. The batch experiments were carried out by varying the shaking times, HNO ₃ concentration, and initial concentration of metal ions. A relatively large K _d value above 182 cm ³/g for Sr(II) was obtained in the presence of 3 M HNO ₃. In contrast, the Kd values of Cs(I), Ru(III), Pd(II), La(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Gd(III), Zr(IV), and Mo(VI) were considerably lower than 10 cm ³/g. The adsorption of Sr(II) was found to be controlled by chemisorption mechanism, and followed a Langmuir-type adsorption equation. The breakthrough curve of Sr(II) had S-shaped profile, and the elution percentage was estimated to be 99.9% by using the eluent of H ₂O.