Comparative study of the recovery of silver(I) from aqueous solutions with different chelating resins derived from glycidyl methacrylate

Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was polymerized in the presence of divinylbenzene (DVB). The GMA/ DVB resin was immobilized with different chelating moieties containing nitrogen or sulfur donor atoms. The resins obtained [an amino-bearing resin (RI), an amino/thiocarbamate-bearing resin (RII), a triazole-bearing resin (RIII), and an amino/thiol-bearing resin (RIV)] were tested toward the recovery of Ag(I) from its aqueous solutions. The adsorption behavior of Ag(I) and the resin regeneration were studied. The sulfur-containing resins showed higher uptake and lower elution efficiency than those containing nitrogen. The maximum uptake values were 1.20, 1.33, 1.40, and 2.86 mmol/g for RI, RII, RIII, and RIV, respectively. The mechanism of interaction between Ag(I) and the resins is also suggested. Regeneration was achieved with a 0.5N thiourea solution, acidified thiourea, or 0.5N H2SO4, where the resins were stable over five cycles. Elution efficiencies of 94-96 and 90-93 % were achieved for the nitrogen- and sulfur-containing resins, respectively. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.