SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND ION-EXCHANGE BEHAVIOR OF A NEW PHASE OF ANTIMONY(V) PHOSPHATE CATION-EXCHANGER - SELECTIVE ADSORPTION OF LEAD(II)

A new phase of antimony(V) phosphate has been synthesized and characte rized using X-ray, IR, SEM, TGA and DTG studies in addition to ion exc hange studies such as determination of ion exchange capacity, elution, pH titration and distribution behaviour. On the basis of the distribut ion behaviour, the material has been found to be highly selective for lead. Some binary separations of metal ions have also been performed o n a column of this material. The X-ray studies reveal the amorphous na ture of the material.