Synthesis of phosphorus-modified poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) chelating resin and its adsorption properties of uranium(VI)

A new phosphorus-modified poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) chelating resin (PS–N–P) was synthesized by P,P-dichlorophenylphosphine oxide modified commercially available ammoniated polystyrene beads, and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The adsorption properties of PS–N–P toward U(VI) from aqueous solution were evaluated using batch adsorption method. The effects of the contact time, temperature, pH and initial uranium concentration on uranium(VI) uptake were investigated. The results show that the maximum adsorption capacity (97.60 mg/g) and the maximum adsorption rate (99.72 %) were observed at the pH 5.0 and 318 K with initial U(VI) concentration 100 mg/L and adsorbent dose 1 g/L. Adsorption equilibrium was achieved in approximately 4 h. Adsorption kinetics studied by pseudo second-order model stated that the adsorption was the rate-limiting step (chemisorption). U(VI) adsorption was found to barely decrease with the increase in ionic strength. Equilibrium data were best modeled by the Langmuir isotherm. The thermodynamic parameters such as ∆G 0, ∆H 0 and ∆S 0 were derived to predict the nature of adsorption. Adsorbed U(VI) ions on PS–N–P resin were desorbed effectively (about 99.39 %) by 5 % NaOH–10 % NaCl. The synthesized resin was suitable for repeated use.