Studies on Synthetic Inorganic Ion Exchangers-III Quantitative Separations of Mg2+ -Pb2+, Zn2+ - Pb2+ Cu2+ - Pb2+, Al3+ - Pb2+, Zn2+ - Cd2+, and Mg2+ - Cd2+ on Lead Antimonate Columns

Abstract

A new inorganic ion exchanger, lead antimonate has been synthesized having an Pb:Sb ratio of 1:5 and cation exchange capacity of 1.46 mequiv./g. It is fairly stable in water and dilute solutions of acids, bases and salts. Ion distribution studies on twenty metal ions have been determined on this gel at pH 1,2,3 and 5. The following mixtures have been separated: Mg²⁺ - Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺ - Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺ - Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺ - Pb²⁺, Al³⁺ - Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺ - Cd²⁺ and Mg²⁺ - Cd²⁺. Mg²⁺ and Al³⁺ were removed with 0.4 M ammonium nitrate, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ with 0.4 M ammonium nitrate + 0.1M nitric acid (1:1), Pb²⁺ with 0.5M nitric acid and Cd²⁺ with 0.25M nitric acid. A tentative structure of this material is proposed on the basis of chemical analysis, pH titrations, thermogravimetry and IR spectrophotometry.