Selective sorption of protactinium on aminopolystyrene azo derivative chelating resins

The sorption of protactinium on chelating resins, containing arsono groups, or other salt-forming groups on an aminopolystyrene lattice, is discussed. The chelating resins were synthesized by coupling diazotizedp-aminopolystyrene witho-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid, 2-arsonobenzene-(1-azo-2)-1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulphonic acid (Arsenazo I) and some other monoazo derivatives of chromotropic acid. The dependence of sorption of Pa, Zr, Nb and Ta was investigated from hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid solutions under static conditions as a function of the concentration of the acid. The feasibility of separating Pa from Fe, U, Zr, Nb, Th and Po is shown, using a solution 10N in respect to sulphuric acid and 0.3M in respect to oxalic acid and employing a resin obtained by coupling diazotized aminopolystyrene with Arsenazo I.