Premium
Modification of α‐Zirconium Phosphate Synthesis – Effects of Crystallinity and Acidity on Eu(III) and Am(III) Ion Exchange
Author(s) -
Wiikinkoski Elmo W.,
Xu Junhua,
Zhang Wenzhong,
Hietala Sami,
Koivula Risto T.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemistryselect
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2365-6549
DOI - 10.1002/slct.201801601
Subject(s) - crystallinity , zirconium , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , ion exchange , crystallization , selectivity , europium , lanthanide , nuclear chemistry , zirconium phosphate , infrared spectroscopy , phosphate , ion , catalysis , crystallography , organic chemistry
Abstract The aim of an ongoing study is to develop ion exchange materials to be used in low pH in mineral acids for the uptake and separation of trivalent lanthanides and actinides. We present material development of α‐zirconium phosphate (ZrP), namely the effects of its crystallinity and acidity on other material properties and on Eu(III) and Am(III) trace ion exchange. One‐pot synthesis for three ZrP products having a time for (re)crystallization of 1 hour, 5 hours and 25 hours, is reported. Characterization techniques include X‐ray diffraction, solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, electron microscopy, p K a1 determination, and 152 Eu(III) and 241 Am(III) ion exchange studies, i. e. distribution‐, selectivity‐ and metal binding coefficient determinations. As crystallinity and crystallite size increase, so do Eu(III) and Am(III) metal binding coefficients. The acidity and Eu(III) and Am(III) distribution‐ and selectivity coefficients increase in the reverse order. Findings are discussed with separation in mind. Promising separation factors (Eu:Am) of up to 90 were achieved in pH less than 1 in nitric acid.