Adsorption and separation of terbium(III) and gadolinium(III) from aqueous nitrate medium using solid extractant

A macroporous copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene resin (TVEX-PHOR) was examined for adsorption of terbium(III) and gadolinium(III) from nitrate medium. Characterization of TVEX-PHOR before and after adsorption was investigated. Different factors affecting the sorption equilibrium were studied and a maximum separation value of 2.31 was reached at V/m = 0.3 L/g. Adsorption kinetics data indicated that the pseudo-second-order model is more applicable, while the isothermal data were found to be correlated with Freundlich model. The resin uptake capacity towards Tb(III) (24.93 mg/g) was more than that of Gd(III) (15.49 mg/g). Thermodynamic parameters of sorption indicated that the process was spontaneous and exothermic.

Automated summary

The macroporous copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene resin (TVEX-PHOR) was studied for its adsorption efficiency towards terbium(III) and gadolinium(III) in nitrate medium. The sorption capacity for Tb(III) (24.93 mg/g) was found to be higher than that for Gd(III) (15.49 mg/g). Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the sorption process was spontaneous and exothermic.