The nature of ion exchange selectivity of phenol-formaldehyde sorbents with respect to cesium and rubidium ions

The structure of aqua complexes of alkali metal ions Me⁺(H₂O) _n , n = 1−6, where Me is Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs, and complexes of 2,6-dimethylphenolate anion (CH₃)₂PhO⁻ selected as a model of the elementary unit of phenol-formaldehyde ion exchanger with hydrated alkali metal cations Me⁺(H₂O) _n , n = 0−5, was studied by the density functional method. The energies of successive hydration of the cations and the energies of binding of alkali metal hydrated cations with (CH₃)₂PhO⁻ depending on the number of water molecules n were calculated. It was shown that the dimethylphenolate ion did not have specific selectivity with respect to cesium and rubidium ions. The energies of hydration and the energies of binding of alkali metal cations with (CH₃)₂PhO⁻ decreased in the series Li⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺ > Rb⁺ > Cs⁺ as n increased. The conclusion was drawn that the reason for selectivity of phenol-formaldehyde and other phenol compounds with respect to cesium and rubidium ions was the predomination of the ion dehydration stage in the transfer from an aqueous solution to the phenol phase compared with the stage of binding with ion exchange groups.