Selective preconcentration of thorium in the presence of UO(2)(2+), Ce(3+) and La(3+) using Th(IV)-imprinted polymer

We have prepared Th(IV) ion-imprinted polymers, which can be used for the selective preconcentration of Th(IV) ions, represented by uranium and lanthanides. N-methacryloyl-(l)-glutamic acid (MAGA) was chosen as the complexing monomer. In the first step, Th(IV) was complexed with MAGA and the Th(IV)-imprinted poly[ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-N-methacryloyl-(l)-glutamic acid] (Poly(MAGA-EDMA)) beads were synthesized by suspension polymerization. After that, the template Th(IV) ions were removed using 8.0 M HNO₃ solution. The breakthrough capacity was 40.44 mg Th(IV)/g beads. The relative selectivity coefficients of imprinted beads were 68, 97 and 116 for UO₂²⁺, La³⁺ and Ce³⁺, times greater than non-imprinted matrix, respectively. The Th(IV)-imprinted beads could be used many times without decreasing their breakthrough capacities significantly.