Preparation of Polyantimonic Acid Exchanger and Its Adsorption Separation of Strontium and Yttrium

The process of preparing polyantimonic acid exchanger by oxidative reflux method from antimonous oxide using hydrogen peroxide solution as oxidant was studied. This kind of ion-exchange material has a high selectivity to Sr²⁺ over Y³⁺ among other inorganic ion exchangers that have been reported when the ion-exchange material is used as a separating medium in Sr²⁺-Y³⁺ solution. The condition of the preparation was investigated by orthogonal experimental method. The optimum reaction conditions of gaining higher distribution coefficients for Sr²⁺ and Y³⁺ are as follows: reaction temperature 60 ℃, 40 mL aqueous and 12 mL hydrogen peroxide solution were mixed with 10 g antimonous oxide, reaction time 120 min. Physicochemical properties of polyantimonic acid exchanger were also studied. The results show that the polyantimonic acid is a kind of cation exchanger.