Preparation of unsaturated polyester–styrene beads using gamma irradiation and chemical polymerization routes for use in the recovery of some alkali metal ions

Abstract

Suspension polymerization of unsaturated polyester-styrene was carried out in different media using different routes of polymerization. The effects of matrix type and concentration hold up, viscosity, irradiation dose, and the agitation speed on the resultant polymer characteristics were examined. The formed beads were physically identified using scanning electron microscopy, hardness, and particle size analysis techniques. They were smooth having typical spherical surfaces; the beads diameters were in the range of about 5-200 mm. The size of the resin beads was found to decrease with increase in the concentration and viscosity of the dispersant and impeller speed. The resultant beads were applied in the recovery of Li þ , Na þ , K þ , and Cs þ ions from acidic media. The distribution coefficients of the alkali metal ions were calculated; the order of selectivity wascase of the chemically processed resin beads, while the selectivity lies in the order of Li þ < Na þ < K þ < Cs þ in case irradiation processed ones. Finally, the economics of production of the unsaturated polyesterstyrene resins using different methodologies was studied.

Recent Drifts in pH-Sensitive Reverse Osmosis

“…Although this model fits the data intelligently well, the fit was not as good as the Langmuir model. This issue discloses that the Langmuir isotherm offers a better description of the binding of metal ions to PAm-ZTS than the Freundlich isotherm [63][64][65][66]. However, for all cases, the Q max asset value was found in the following order [20]:…”