Role of preparation technique in the morphological structures of innovative nano-cation exchange

Abstract

Nano-zirconium tungsto-vanadate cation exchange material was constructed in different morphological structures using sol–gel, hydrothermal and microwave techniques in presence of polymeric matrix as stabilizing agent. Polyvinyl alcohol was established as the optimum stabilizing agent. Influence of preparation parameters in presence of polyvinyl alcohol was examined as a function of ion exchange capacity and surface area for the prepared materials. The optimum reactant molar ratio was recorded as 1:0.5:1 for zirconium:vanadium:tungsten respectively. Properties of the most efficient ion exchange samples were inspected using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The feasibility of the prepared materials as cation exchanger for lead and strontium decontaminations was compared. Microwave represented the most efficient technique for material production with highest surface area of 671 m2/g and highest ion exchange capacity of 4.7 meq/g and about 64.9 and 44.2 mg/g lead and strontium sorption capacity respectively. Keywords: Zirconium tungsto-vanadate, Nanorod morphology, Nanomaterials architecture, Cation exchanger, Microwave technique