Nano-crystalline titanium(IV)tungstomolybdate cation exchanger: Synthesis, characterization and ion exchange properties

Abstract

Nano-titanium(IV)tungstomolybdate cation exchanger has been synthesized via homogenous precipitation approach. Synthesis parameters have been optimized to get the highest ion exchange capacity (IEC). The as-synthesized nanoexchanger has been fully characterized by XRD, XRF, TEM, STEM/HAADF/EDS, FTIR and BET. The titanium(IV)tungstomolybdate behaves as bifunctional and strong acid cation exchanger with IEC of 2.41 meq g−1 for Na+ions. Very high distribution coefficient values for Pb2+ (Kd = 10767 mL g−1) and Cr3+ (Kd = 11800 mL g−1) ions indicate that the exchanger can be used to selectively adsorb Pb2+ and Cr3+ ions from the waste containing other metal ions. The exchanger has also showed a promising affinity towards a radionuclide UO22+ (Kd = 7043 mL g−1 in 0.1 M DMSO). The distribution study of the exchanger in different solvent systems showed promising separation potential of the exchanger towards metal ions of analytical interest from a given mixture for toxic heavy metal ions.