Adsorption of Scandium Ions by Amberlite XAD7HP Polymeric Adsorbent Loaded with Tri-n-Octylphosphine Oxide

Diana Daminescu; Narcis Duteanu; Mihaela Ciopec; Adina Negrea; Petru Negrea; Nicoleta Sorina Nemeş; Bogdan Pascu; Cătălin Ianăşi; Lucian Cotet

doi:10.3390/molecules29071578

Adsorption of Scandium Ions by Amberlite XAD7HP Polymeric Adsorbent Loaded with Tri-n-Octylphosphine Oxide

Molecules. 2024 Apr 1;29(7):1578. doi: 10.3390/molecules29071578.

Authors

Diana Daminescu¹, Narcis Duteanu¹, Mihaela Ciopec¹, Adina Negrea¹, Petru Negrea¹, Nicoleta Sorina Nemeş², Bogdan Pascu², Cătălin Ianăşi³, Lucian Cotet⁴

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Industrial Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Victoriei Square, No. 2, 300006 Timisoara, Romania.
² Renewable Energy Research Institute-ICER, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Gavril Musicescu Street, No. 138, 300774 Timisoara, Romania.
³ Coriolan Drăgulescu' Institute of Chemistry, Bv. Mihai Viteazul, No. 24, 300223 Timisoara, Romania.
⁴ Alum, S.A, Isaccei Street No. 83, 820228 Tulcea, Romania.

Abstract

In an actual economic context, the demand for scandium has grown due to its applications in top technologies. However, further development of new technologies will lead to an increase in the market for Sc related to such technologies. The present study aims to improve and upgrade existing technology in terms of efficient scandium recovery, proposing a new material with selective adsorptive properties for scandium recovery. To highlight the impregnation of Amberlite XAD7HP resin with tri-n-octylphosphine oxide extractant by the solvent-impregnated resin method, the obtained adsorbent material was characterized by physico-chemical techniques. Further, the specific surface of the adsorbent and the zero-point charge of the adsorbent surface have been determined. Different parameters, such as initial concentration, adsorbent amount, contact time, or temperature, have been studied. The initial pH effect was investigated when a maximum adsorption capacity of 31.84 mg g^-1 was obtained at pH > 3, using 0.1 g of adsorbent and a contact time of 90 min and 298 K. An attempt was made to discuss and provide a clear representation of the studied adsorption process, proposing a specific mechanism for Sc(III) recovery from aqueous solutions through kinetic, thermodynamic, and equilibrium studies. Adsorption/desorption studies reveal that the prepared adsorbent material can be reused five times.

Keywords: Amberlite XAD7HP; TOPO; adsorption; recovery process; scandium.

Grants and funding

This study was possible by the implementation of the “Endow the Research and Development Department of SC ALUM SA Tulcea with independent andefficient research facilities to support the economic competitiveness andusinessdevelopment” project, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Competitiveness Operational Programme 2014–2020. Under this project, the following items were purchased and commissioned: “Independent quipment/Installationfor research and development of the technology of wet aluminum hydroxide classification,” “Independent equipment/Installation for research and development of technology to obtain the dried aluminium hydroxide,” and “Independent equipment/Installation for research and development of the technology of grinding and screening the dried aluminium hydroxide.” Also, this work was supported by the research grant BC 13/14.02.2020—University Polytechnica Timisoara. This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization, project number PFE 26/30.12.2021, PERFORM-CDI@UPT100- The increasing of the performance of the Polytechnic University of Timișoara by strengthening the research, development, and technological transfer capacity in the field of “Energy, Environment and Climate Change” at the beginning of the second century of its existence, within Program 1—Development of the national system of research and development, Subprogram 1.2—Institutional Performance—Institutional Development Projects—Excellence Funding Projects in RDI, PNCDI III.