Remote interaction effect of industrial ion exchangers on the electrochemical and sorption equilibrium in scandium sulfate solution

• Published in: Polymer bulletin (Berlin, Germany) Germany), 2024-02, Vol.81 (3), p.2023-2041
• Main Authors: Jumadilov, T. K., Imangazy, A. M., Khimersen, Kh, Haponiuk, J. T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Organic Chemistry; Original Paper; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Soft and Granular Matter
• ISSN: 0170-0839; 1436-2449
• DOI: 10.1007/s00289-023-04800-x

In this study, we investigated the remote interaction effect between industrial ion exchangers, namely Lewatit CNP LF (in H + form) and AV-17-8 (in OH − form), in an interpolymer system called "Lewatit CNP LF:AV-17-8" (X:Y) with varying molar ratios (6:0, 5:1, 4:2, 3:3, 2:4, 1:5, and 0:6) immersed in a scandium sulfate solution. It should be mentioned that the interpolymer system represents a pair of cross-linked polymers with active functional groups that are in a common solution without direct contact. The mutual activation of the ion exchangers as the interpolymer system in the aqueous medium leads to conformational and electrochemical changes, resulting in their transition to a highly ionized state and enhanced sorption activity. To determine the conditions for maximum scandium ion sorption, we studied the influence of the initial conformational states of Lewatit CNP LF and AV-17-8 during their remote interaction. At a ratio close to 5:1, we observed significant changes in pH and electrical conductivity, which prompted us to thoroughly investigate the electrochemical properties of ratios between 5:1 and 6:0 using pH and electrical conductivity measurements. Our results showed that the interpolymer system "Lewatit CNP LF:AV-17-8" (5.6:0.4) exhibited a significant increase in sorption activity toward scandium ions. This research aims to develop highly efficient and selective universal sorbents activated by the remote interaction effect among functional polymers in an interpolymer system for the separation and extraction of a wide range of valuable metals (including scandium) and their compounds from industrial solutions.