Adsorption of Re(VII) by coated solvent-impregnated resins containing Alamine 304-1 from sulfuric acid solutions

The recovery of rhenium from waste acid is an urgent issue due to low rhenium concentration and high sulfuric acidity. To solve the problem, novel coated solvent-impregnated resins consisting of inert resins LS-300, Alamine 304-1 and the PVA film (304-CSIRs) were prepared for the separation of Re(VII) from high sulfuric acid solutions. It was shown that the PVA film coated completely on the surfaces of LS-300 resins with a thickness of 5 mu m, and Alamine 304-1 distributed completely inside the porous of LS-300 resins. The adsorption fitted well with Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order model with the saturation adsorption capacity of 139.40 mg center dot g(-1). The maximum separation factor of Re(VII) versus Cu (II) was up to 483, and 304-CSIRs had no adsorptions for As(V). The adsorption capacity of Re(VII) onto 304-CSIRs maintained in 97.79% at the fifth adsorption-desorption cycle. 99.87% of rhenium was recovered by 304-CSIRs from waste acid generated from a copper smelter. Graphic abstract