THE SEPARATION OF TELLURIUM AND SELENIUM BY POLYURETHANE FOAM SORBENTS

Tellurium and selenium can be sorbed from hydrochloric acid and hydrobromic acid solution by both polyether and polyester-based polyurethane foam. Although some acid is needed, the substitution of sodium chloride or sodium bromide increases the extraction significantly. Tellurium is extracted rapidly with > 99% sorbed in 2 min from 1.0/5.0M and 2.0/4.0M hydrochloric acid/sodium bromide. Selenium can also be sorbed quantitatively but much more slowly so that a separation is possible based on the relative rates of extraction. The capacity of polyether foam is 3% by weight of tellurium.