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Neodymium (III) ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) materials were prepared by the copolymerization of neodymium (III)-5,7-dichloroquinoline-8-ol-4-vinylpyridine ternary complex with styrene(monomer), divinyl benzene (crosslinking monomer) in the presence of 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (initiator). The synthesis was carried out in 2-methoxy ethanol medium (porogen) and the resultant material was filtered, washed, dried and powdered to form unleached IIP particles. The imprint ion was removed by stirring the above particles with 50% (v/v) HCl for 6 h to obtain leached IIP particles with cavities in the polymer particles. Control polymer (CP) particles were similarly prepared without imprint ion, i.e. neodymium (III). CP, unleached and leached IIP particles were characterized by TLC, IR, microanalysis, XRD and UV-visible spectrophotometric studies. The preconcentration of 5-150 microg of neodymium (III) ions present in 500 ml of solution was possible with as little as 40 mg of neodymium (III) IIP particles in the pH range 7.5-8.0 with a detection limit of 50 ng/l. Five replicate determinations of 25 microg of neodymium (III) present in 500 ml of solution gave a mean absorbance of 0.120 with a relative standard deviation of 2.65%. The imprinting effect of IIP particles was noticed in all preconcentration and selectivity studies when compared with CP particles. Furthermore, the selectivity coefficients of neodymium (III) IIP particles were much higher compared with the reported separation factors for the best liquid-liquid extractants, viz. di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid and 2-ethylhexyl-ethylhexyl phosphonate. Kinetic and isotherm studies during rebinding of neodymium (III) onto IIP particles were also carried out.

Electro-osmotic chemical treatment is an innovative method to improve the strength of soft clays for geotechnical engineering purposes; the effectiveness of the treatment may be related to treatment time, the concentration of the solutions injected, and to variation of pH in the clay. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the above-mentioned factors and the improvement in strength when calcium chloride solution was used as an injection material. A series of tests was carried out by injecting different concentrations of calcium chloride solution into a kaolin suspension, for different treatment times, during electro-osmosis. After the tests, the pH, cone resistance, water content, and concentration of Ca2+ in the kaolin at different locations were measured and analyzed. The results show that the concentration of Ca2+ in the kaolin, the pH, and the strength were increased near the cathode with increases in concentration of CaCl2 and treatment time. An insignificant increase in strength, due to ion exchange over the entire specimen, for short treatment times of 2 to 24 h, was observed because of a small increase in concentration of Ca2+ and in pH. During long-term treatment (120 h), a considerable increase in concentration of Ca2+ (137.0 mg/g) and pH (pH = 10) was observed near the cathode. This led to a pozzolanic reaction, which in turn caused a significant increase in the mechanical strength of the kaolin.

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