THE CONCENTRATION OF TRACE ELEMENTS FROM SEA WATER BY ION EXCHANGE,
Abstract
A study was conducted to determine the feasibility of concentrating trace elements found in sea water by ion exchange. The conventional ion-exchange materials are not sufficiently specific in sea water for this task. However, Chelex 100, a chelating resin, has superior properties for accomplishing such separations. Chelex 100 quantitatively removes divalent cobalt from sea water. In the course of the investigation it was found that cobalt exists also as a Co(III) complex in sea water. This complex is not retained by the chelating resin. By the combination of Chelex 100 and activated charcoal in a column, all of the cobalt could be separated. All of the cobalt in sea water could also be concentrated on Chelex 100 if the Co(III) species was first reduced with a suitable metal. Electroreduction and the use of other reducing agents was about 99% effective. Preliminary investigations with Fe59, Zn65, and Ag110m showed that the zinc and iron also could be concentrated with Chelex 100. Only 54% of the silver was retained. Iron is quite similar to cobalt in its behavior in sea water: two oxidation states exist simultaneously but only one is quantitatively adsorbed. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 06, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0647661
Entities
People
- Clarence M. Callahan
- Juan N. Pascual
- Ming G. Lai
Organizations
- Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory