A chelating resin containing 4-(2-thiazolylazo)resorcinol as the functional group Synthesis and sorption behaviour for trace metal ions

A new styrene-DVB based chelating resin containing 4-(2-thiazolylazo)resorcinol (TAR) functional groups has been synthesized and its sorption behaviour for thirteen metal ions including U(VI) has been investigated by batch and column experiments. The chelating resin is highly selective for Cu(II) and U(VI) in the pH range 1~2, whereas alkali metal and alkaline earth metal ions such as Na(I), Mg(II) and Ca(II) are not sorbed even at pH 6. The effect of diverse ions, particularly Ca(II), Mg(II), chloride, sulfate and carbonate which are matrix ions in sea water and uranium waste effluents, on sorption of U(VI) has also been investigated in detail. In addition, sorption capacities for the metal ions have been measured by breakthrough experiments. Quantitative recovery of most metal ions studied in this work except Co(II) is achieved by elution with 2 M HNO3 at a flow rate of 0.1 ml min−1. The chelating resin is stable in acidic solutions below 2.5 M HNO3 or HCl as well as in alkaline solutions below pH 11.