The study of the Kinetic Characteristics of Sorption of Scandium of Ion Exchanger Purolite MTS9580 from Return Circulating Solutions of Underground Leaching of Uranium Ores

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a study of experiments on the sorption characteristics of phosphorus-containing ion exchangers Purolite MTS9580 (functional group ‒ derivatives of phosphonic acid) and Lewatit TP260 (functional group ‒ aminomethylphosphonic acid) on scandium. Using the method of low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, structural characteristics of selected ion exchangers Purolite MTS9580 and Lewatit TP260 respectively were measured. The specific surface of Purolite MTS9580 and Lewatit TP260 ion exchangers was measured as 5.1 and 4.5 m2/g, respectively. The obtained values indicate the presence of a macroporous structure in the ion exchangers. Experiments were carried out on the sorption of scandium and critical impurities in a static mode and dynamic mode while varying the acidity of the initial mother liquor of the sorption of uranium. Comparison of scandium sorption from pre-acidified uranium sorption mother liquor with Lewatit TP260 and Purolite MTS9580 ion exchangers showed an advantage for MTS9580 resin. The MTS9580 resin had an exchange capacity of 200 mg Sc/dm3 versus 59.7 mg Sc/dm3 for TP260. The dynamic exchange capacity of Purolite MTS9580 is much lower in relation to harmful impurities as Al, Fe, Ca, etc.