Separation of metallic ions using cation exchange resin in the presence of organic macrocation: Mechanism of surface layer formation Original Research Article

Cation exchange resin properties were modified after immersion in the organic aliphatic ammonium cations. Adsorption or ion exchange with tetrabutylammonium, tetramethylammonium, tetraoctylammonium and tridodecylamine were carried out for different initial concentration and immersion period. As the period of the immersion of the resin in the solution of tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) increased, the adsorbed amount increased and reached the equilibrium. Increase in the initial concentration of tetrabutylammonium leads to the increase exchange capacity for Cu2+, Cd2+ and Ag+ and decrease of Li+, K+ and Fe3+exchange whereas the rate of uptake of the same ions change with the length of aliphatic chain.