Evaluation of the scandium affinity under the iron coexistence using radiation grafted adsorbents

Hayashi, Natsuki*; Hoshina, Hiroyuki; Amada, Haruyo; Yamanobe, Takeshi*; Seko, Noriaki

A fibrous phosphoric acid adsorbents for scandium were synthesized by radiation graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), subsequent chemical modification, and direct grafting with a phosphoric monomer having both vinyl and phosphoric groups onto a polypropylene coated by polyethylene nonwoven fabric. The resultant grafted fibrous phosphoric acid adsorbent (HMP-g) having long side grafted chains has high affinity for scandium (Sc) ions even under the coexistence with Fe ion. The breakthrough capacity for Sc of 0.5 ppm with Fe coexistence was 10.9 mol-Sc per kg-adsorbent for the GMA derivative phosphoric adsorbent, and 17.8 mol-Sc per kg-adsorbent for HMP-g, respectively.