CATION-EXCHANGE RESINS PREPARED FROM PHYTIC ACID

A novel series of water-insoluble cation-exchange resins was produced by heating a commercial phytic acid solution with any of several organ ic and inorganic materials possessing multiple hydroxyl functionality. Suitable materials for use as substrates were pure polysaccharides su ch as starch or cellulose, complex polysaccharide mixtures such as tho se found in agricultural residues (sugar beet pulp, corn bran, or oat hull), simple sugars such as sodium gluconate, and some polymeric inor ganics such as silica and powdered glass. These materials were heated with phytic acid at 180 degrees C for 20-35 min in vacuo. The brown to black material produced had an ion exchange capacity for calcium that ranged from 780-5700 mu equiv/g. The silica- and glass-based resins m ay be suitable materials for the cleanup of radioactive wastes. They h ave a low carbon content (1-3%), and subsequent vitrification to stabi lize the radioactive elements in an insoluble form is simplified becau se the matrix of the resin is silica. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.