Selective separation of Y(III) from Sr(II) using hybrid polymer: synthesis, characterization, batch and column study

In the present work, poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid)-SiO2, p(AM-AA)-SiO2, was made with a template polymerization technique induced by gamma irradiation as an initiator under an irradiation dose of 60.00 kGy. The produced hybrid polymer was investigated using different techniques such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and was applied for the separation of Y(III) and Sr(II) using column chromatography resulting in an acceptable separation. The results exhibited that the percentage of adsorption of Y(III) in the binary system increased with increasing pH value with a slight uptake percentage of Sr(II) ions in the batch technique. The highest removal percentage of Y(III) was about 90.00% with a low amount of Sr(II) and was achieved at pH 4.00 in batch technique with specific values of the distribution coefficient (Kd) and separation factor (SF). The loaded percentages of Y(III) and Sr(II) on the packed column were 95.50 and 40%, respectively, at the best conditions. The results illustrated that the recovery Y(III) and Sr(III) from the packed column were 98.97 and 96.65%, respectively, using 25% ethanol followed by 0.001 M HNO3. The hybrid polymer could be regenerated and achieved, and the results are relevant that there is no change in adsorption ability of p(AM-AA)-SiO2 after three times of use. The results recommended that the p(AM-AA)-SiO2 is effective for the separation and purification of Y(III) from Sr(II) ions.