Influence of water on Sm2+ sorption by NaA zeolite in tetrahydrofuran solution

Reasons for increase in the sorption of bivalents samarium in the form of SmI2 on NaA zeolite from tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution in the presence of water were studied. By the method of absorptional spectroscopy it is ascertained that in THF-H2O solution, as compared with anhydrous THF water molecule is substituted for samarium ion coordination sphere, which improves exchange of samarium-sodium ions in zeolite matrix. Sorption of samarium ions by hydrated zeolite NaA is accompained by water polarization in zeolite and formation of (Si, Al)-O-Sm-O-(Si, Al) bonds