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Synthesis and Evaluation of Resins for Actinide Separations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2011

K. L. Noyes
Affiliation:
Nuclear Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, NW13–220, 138 Albany St. Cambridge, MA 02139
N. Charton
Affiliation:
Nuclear Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, NW13–220, 138 Albany St. Cambridge, MA 02139
Micheline Draye
Affiliation:
Ecole Nationale Superieure de Chimie de Paris, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France 75000
K. R. Czerwinski
Affiliation:
Nuclear Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, NW13–220, 138 Albany St. Cambridge, MA 02139
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Abstract

Molecular imprinting techniques have shown great promise for applications in chemical separations, including those involving lanthanides and actinides. This work examines the production of a selective resin for Am separations. Due to practical difficulties, resins were not imprinted with Am, rather 3 resins were created with each of Sm, Nd, and Pr as the template ions. An analogous “blank” or unimprinted resin was also created. The nitrate salt of the target metal ion was dissolved in CH2Cl2 and the resin was created around the ions to provide a unique structure based upon each metal. These resins were synthesized by a radical polymerization method, producing a reusable organic solid. The resins were qualified by obtaining values for their proton exchange capacities and data to define their complexation thermodynamics. Proton exchange capacities were determined using an indirect titration and were found to be 10.08 meq/g for the Sm-imprinted resin, 7.25 meq/g for the Nd resin, and 7.14 meq/g for the Pr resin. Data for the resins' thermodynamics were obtained at pH 1–7 in steps of 0.5 units. Results show that the templated resins rapidly removed the target actinide from aqueous solution under experimental conditions. Best separation results for Am from Eu and Gd were obtained with the Nd imprinted resin.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2003

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