Ion-exchange resin modified with aggregated nanoparticles of zirconium hydrophosphate. Morphology and functional properties

•Ion-exchange resin was modified with nanoparticles of zirconium hydrophosphate.•The aggregates of nanoparticles transform porous structure of the polymer.•Influence of the filler on functional properties of the composites was researched.•The composites were used for removal of toxic cations from diluted solutions.•Influence of structure of the composite on their functional properties was found.

Organic–inorganic ion-exchangers based on gel-like strongly acidic resin, which contain different amount of zirconium hydrophosphate, have been obtained. The samples were investigated using methods of transmission and scanning electron microscopy, standard contact porosimetry, NMR 35P spectroscopy. Nanoparticles of the inorganic constituent (10 nm) are deposited in voids between geld field and in structure defects of the polymer forming aggregates of micron size. These large particles squeeze and stretch pores of the polymer, where –SO3 groups are located, a radius of these pores decreases from 10 nm down to 2 nm. A part of functional groups of the polymer component are excluded from ion exchange due to squeezing of pores, ion exchange properties are determined mainly by the inorganic constituent. Ion exchange capacity of the composites reaches 0.6–1.3 mmol cm−3. These materials sorb preferably Cd2+ and Ni2+ from solutions, which contain also hardness ions. The highest break-through capacity has been found for the composite with the smallest microporosity of the polymer constituent, this value reaches 80% of total ion-exchange capacity.

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