Synthesis and Characterization of Ordered Mesoporous Anion-Exchange Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Resins for Radionuclide Separation

Abstract

Ordered mesoporous anion-exchange hybrid resin materials were prepared by hydrolysis synthesis using the micellar template approach. The prepared samples were characterized via infrared spectroscopy, nitrogen sorption, and small-angle X-ray scattering. The uptakes of anionic thorium nitrate complexes by the new resins in 8 N nitric acid solutions were determined. The thorium loading capacity of the hybrid mesoporous silica functionalized with N-trimethoxysilylpropyl-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 to be much more selective than a popular organic commercial anion-exchange resin.