THE ION-EXCHANGE PROPERTIES TOWARD HEXAAMINECOBALT(III) AND THE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE COMPLEX CATION FORM OF ALPHA-ZIRCONIUM PHOSPHATE

The ion-exchange properties of alpha -zirconium phosphate have been investigated for the H** plus - left bracket Co(NH//3)//6 right bracket **3** plus system. The ion-exchange process was examined by means of the variation in the pH values of the supernatant. alpha -Zirconium phosphate loaded with hexaamminecobalt(III) was also characterized by chemical analysis, X-ray diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. In spite of the steric hindrance in the crystal structure of alpha -zirconium phosphate, the ion exchange proceeded gradually. About 30% of the hydrogen ions in alpha -zirconium phosphate were replaced by hexaamminecobalt(III). The interlayer distance of the exchanger expanded from 0. 76 to 1. 12 nm.