Investigation of macroporous weakly basic anion exchangers applicability in palladium(II) removal from acidic solutions – batch and column studies

Weakly basic anion (WBA) exchange resins applicability in palladium(II) removal from the acidic solution systems was tested. Equilibrium experiments, kinetics, effects of phase contact time, acids and sodium chloride concentrations on Pd(II) sorption were studied by means of both batch and fix-bed column methods. In this paper the analysis of the data obtained for Amberlite IRA-92, Amberlite IRA-95, Amberlite IRA-96, Dowex 66, Varion ADAM and Lewatit MP-62 was discussed and compared to those obtained for Amberlyst A-23, Amberlyst A-24, Dowex WGR-2 and Amberlyst A-21. The sorption capacity as high as 121.48 mg/g for Varion ADAM was found. The sorption process of Pd(II) on the weakly basic anion exchange resins was fast and the sorption capacities were found to be influenced by the acids and sodium chloride addition. The studies of Pd(II) uptake using the fix-bed columns confirm the greater affinity of Varion ADAM for Pd(II) than of the other weakly basic anion exchangers. Kinetics of Pd(II) follows the pseudo-second order kinetic equation.

► Weakly basic anion exchange resins efficient sorbents in palladium(II) removal.
► Varion ADAM is the most suitable resin for Pd removal from acidic solutions.
► Good kinetic properties of WBA resins result in fast and economic Pd sorption.
► Pd(II) sorption process follows the pseudo-second order kinetic equation.
► Langmuir isotherm model fitted adequately the experimental data for Varion ADAM.