Synthesis and characterization of ordered mesoporous anion-exchange inorganic/organic hybrid resins for radionuclide separation

Ordered mesoporous anion-exchange hybrid resin materials were prepared by h ydrolysis synthesis using the micellar template approach. The prepared samp les were characterized via infrared spectroscopy, nitrogen sorption, and sm all-angle X-ray scattering. The uptakes of anionic thorium nitrate complexe s by the new resins in 8 N nitric acid solutions were determined. The thori um loading capacity of the hybrid mesoporous silica functionalized with N-t rimethoxysilylpropyl-N,N,N-tri-n-butylammonium is greater than that of the hybrid mesoporous silica functionalized with N-trimethoxylsilylpropyl-N,N,N -trimethylammonium The mesoporous hybrid anion-exchange resins were shown t o be much more selective than a popular organic commercial anion-exchange r esin.