Sorption behaviour of lanthanum(III), neodymium(III), terbium(III), thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) on Amberlite XAD-4 resin functionalized with bicine ligands

The complexing properties (capacity, pH effect, breakthrough curve) of a ch elating resin, containing bicine ligands, were investigated for La(III), Nd (III), Tb(III), Th(IV) and U(VI). Trace amounts of these metal ions were qu antitatively retained on the resin and recovered by eluting with 1 M hydroc hloric acid. The capacity of the resin for La(III), Nd(III), Tb(III), Th(IV ) and U(VI) was found to be 0.35, 0.40, 0.42, 0.25 and 0.38 mmol g(-1) resp ectively. Separation of U(VI) and Th(IV) from Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II) and Cu (II) in a synthetic solution was carried out. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.