The Utilization of TMMA Chelating Resin for the Adsorption of U(VI) and Some Lanthanide Ions from Acidic Media

Abstract

N,N,N ^′,N ^′‐Tetramethylmalonamide (TMMA) chelating resin was used for the separation of U(VI) ions and some rare earth ions from acidic media. Effect of nitric acid concentration on the distribution coefficient, in the acid concentration range 0.05–6 M, is presented. The equilibrium isotherms of U(VI) ions, Ce(III), Eu(III), Nd(III), and Dy(III) were investigated. The utilization of the resin for the removal U(VI) ions and Ce(III) ions on laboratory‐scale fixed‐bed column was studied. The elution of the sorbed ions by 0.1 M HNO₃ was found to be possible. The column‐operation results proved that the resin is more promising compared with dihexyl‐N,N‐diethylcarbamoylmethyl‐phosphonate (CMP) chelating resin.

Keywords:

• Chelating resins
• Lanthanides
• U(VI) ions
• Wastewater
• Adsorption

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to express their appreciation to Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) for its support.