Synthesis and evaluation of resorcinol-based ion-exchange resins for the selective removal of cesium

Control of the reaction conditions during the alkaline polycondensation of resorcinol with formaldehyde leads to polymeric resins with improved capacity toward caesium. The resins obtained are characterized by determining their moisture regain and ion-exchange capacity. The distribution coefficient (D) for alkali-metal cations are determined in a competitive extraction system at different pH. The alkali-metal cation sorption selectivity series is strongly influenced by the pH of the solution. Two kinds of mechanism can explain these selectivity series. Extraction of caesium from simulated radioactive waste was studied at different pH in the presence of a large excess of sodium. The study also includes the kinetic and the ion-exchange capacity for caesium of the sodium form of the resins.