Adsorption properties of amidoxime resins for separation of uranium (V I) from aqueous solutions

In this study, the acrylonitrile-divinylbenzene-methylacrylate resin was synthesized via suspension polymerization in the presence of toluene as a diluent, and benzoylperoxide as an initiator. The effect of methylacrylate, toluene and alkaline treatment on the exchange capacity of the resin were investigated. The results showed that the anion exchange capacity decreases with an increase of the amount of methylacrylate, while alkaline treatment has no significant effect. Also, the cation exchange capacity increases with an increase in the amount of hydrophilic agent and reaches a maximum. The sorption equilibrium was achieved relatively fast within 40 minutes. The adsorption of uranium was directly depends on the p H value. Finally, the alkaline treatment enhances the potential for the much faster adsorption and the chelating resin provides a more favourable pore structure for the rapid diffusion of the ions.