Abstract
I
n this study, selective separation and preconcentration of Th(IV) in aqueous solutions and bastnaesite ore
in the presence various lanthanide ions by using Th(IV)-imprinted polymer was conducted. For this purpose,
Th(IV) was complexed with N-methacryloyl antipyrine (MAAP) and the prepared (MAAP)2-Th(IV) complex
monomer was polymerized with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) cryogel to prepare pHEMA-(MAAP)2-
Th(IV) cryogel polymer by free radical polymerization. Th(IV) was desorbed with 5.0 mol.L-1 HNO3 and thus
Th(IV)-imrinted were created onto p-HEMA-(MAAP)2 cryogel polymer. To determine the optimum conditions,
in the process of selective binding of Th(IV) ion to Th(IV)-imprinted p-HEMA-(MAAP)2 cryogel polymer, some
parameters such as pH, flow rate, initial Th(IV) concentration were investigated. Under the optimum conditions,
the maximum binding capacity was obtained as 48.30 mg.g-1. Selectivity studies were also carried out in the
presence of Ce(III), La(III) and Eu(III) ions using Th(IV)-imprinted p-HEMA-(MAAP)2 cryogel polymer. It was
found that p-HEMA-(MAAP)2 cryogel polymer displayed high selectivity toward Th(IV) ion.