Synthesis of functional silica composite resin for the selective separation of zirconium from scandium

A novel functional silica composite (SiAcP) based on bis(2-methacryloxyethyl) phosphate (BMAOP) was prepared by in situ polymerization method for separating Zr from Sc. The synthesis conditions were optimized. SiAcP resin using DMSO as solvent with the loading rate of 30% and the cross-linking degree of 13% showed relatively good performance. Adsorption and separation behaviors towards Sc(III) and Zr(IV) were studied by both batch and column experiments. The resin exhibited good adsorption towards Zr(IV) that the equilibrium can be obtained within 5 h with the maximum adsorption capacity of 0.3 mmol Zr/g at 318 K. Excellent selectivity towards Zr(IV) over Scalp was observed with SFzr/sc uf 48 and 140 in 0.5 M HCl and HNO3 solutions respectively. In the column test, Zr could be easily separated from Sc. Finally, XPS spectra demonstrated that although the adsorption process was primarily dominated by ion-exchange, P = O plays a key role in selective separation of Zr(IV) over Sc(III). All in all, this work not only provides an excellent material for adsorbing Zr(IV) from acidic solution, but also presents a novel method for separating Zr(IV) from Sc(III) by extraction chromatography.