Synthesis and characterization of modified resins and their selective sorption towards rhenium from binary (Re & Mo) solutions

Three amine-functionalized resins were prepared by suspension polymerization of vinyl-benzyl chloride, divinylbenzene, and subsequent amination process. The effect of chain length and cyclic amine on the performance of resins was investigated in a multicomponent system (Re & Mo). N-pentylamine, propylamine, and pyrrolidine were used in the investigation. Different analyses such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), Kiejdahl’s and Volhard’s methods were used to characterize the synthesized resins. The synthesized resins then were assayed in a batch mode using binary solutions of Re (VII) and Mo to evaluate their efficiency to the selective sorption of rhenium ions. Among all investigated resins, the resin with cyclic amine groups revealed better separation properties in acidic solution (pH= 1) with the highest sorption capacity up to 46.4 mg Re/g and a distribution coefficient of 870 that is more attributed to a steric barrier created against the polymeric molybdenum ions that are larger than objective ions in the studied system.