Studies on selective adsorption resins. XXI. Preparation and properties of macroreticular chelating ion exchange resins containing phosphoric acid groups

Macroreticular cation exchange resins containing phosphoric acid groups (RGP) were prepared by the reaction of glycidyl methacrylate–divinylbenzene copolymer [or poly(glycidyl methacrylate)]beads (RG) with phosphoric acid or phosphorous oxychloride, and the adsorption behavior of metal ions on the RGP was investigated. The phosphorylation of the polymer beads could be effectively carried out by treatment of the polymer beads with 85% phosphoric acid at 80°C for 3 h. The RGP obtained from glycidyl methacrylate–divinylbenzene (2 mol %) copolymer beads showed high cation exchange capacity, salt splitting capacity, and adsorption capacity for Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Ca2+, and Ag+. On the other hand, the RGP obtained from poly(glycidyl methacrylate)beads had high adsorption capacity for Al3+, Fe3+, and UO22+. The RGP prepared by treating the RG with phosphoric acid had a higher selective adsorption for Li+ than for Na+.