Removal of ~(63)Ni and ~(57)Co from aqueous solution using antimony doped tin dioxide–polyacrylonitrile (Sb doped SnO_2–PAN) composite ion-exchangers

摘要

Tin dioxide and its antimony doped counterpart were synthesized using traditional sol–gel procedure. The metal oxides were then turned into composites by mixing them with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and composite spheres ready for use in traditional column applications were obtained. The characterization of materials was investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy– energy dispersive X-ray, surface area, point of zero charge and thermal analyses. Static batch experiments showed that the antimony doped tin dioxide–PAN (Sb doped SnO_2– PAN) is an effective material for nickel removal and the composite maintains its good metal uptake properties in dynamic column conditions. The composite showed a high nickel uptake capacity of 9 mmol/g in 0.1 M NaNO_3 solution. It was observed that the ion exchange kinetics of antimony doped tin dioxide (Sb doped SnO_2) was remarkably fast for ~(57)Co and ~(63)Ni ions but turning the material into PAN composite significantly decreased the materials kinetic properties.