SYNTHETIC, ANALYTICAL AND KINETIC-STUDIES ON A CRYSTALLINE AND THERMALLY STABLE PHASE OF ANTIMONY(V) ARSENOSILICATE CATION-EXCHANGER

A new, thermally stable and crystalline phase of antimony(V) arsenosil icate has been synthesized and characterized using X-ray, IR, TGA and DTA studies in addition to ion exchange studies such as determination of ion exchange capacity, elution, pH titration and distribution behav iour. On the basis of the distribution behaviour the material has been found to be highly selective for iron. Some binary separations of met al ions such as Sr(II) Cd(II) and Mn(II)-Cd(II) have also been perform ed on a column of this material. The X-ray studies reveal the crystall ine nature of the material, indicating a cubic structure. The kinetics of exchange for the metal ions has also been studied and some physica l parameters such as the self-diffusion coefficient D0, energy E(a) an d entropy DELTAS of activation have been determined.