Anion Exchange Resin Modified with Nanoparticles of Hydrated Zirconium Dioxide for Sorption of Soluble U(VI) Compounds

Organic–inorganic sorbents have been synthesized by modification of gel-like anion exchange resin with hydrated zirconium dioxide. Such synthesis conditions as solution concentration, temperature, and surface tension of the solvent were varied. A theoretical approach, which is based on the Ostwald–Freundlich equation, has been developed for purposeful control of size of the incorporated particles. Depending on the synthesis method, particles of one or other size dominate in the polymer matrix (from ≈5 nm to several microns). Sorption of uranyl anionic complexes was investigated. It was found that sorption rate is described by models of chemical reactions of pseudo-first or pseudo-second order. The samples modified with small particles (from several nanometers up to 300 nm) show higher sorption rate than the pristine resin. Decrease of particle size facilitates chemical regeneration of the sorbents. Desorption degree reaches 95–100%, when 1 M NaHCO3 solution is used.