Efficient Removal of Uranyl Ions from Waste Water using Melamine-Formaldehyde (MF)-Bound Cyclen Derivatives

Dana Mizrahi, Organic Chemistry Department, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona, Israel
Ofra Paz Tal, Chemistry Department, NRCN, Beer-Sheva, Israel (ofrapt@gmail.com)
Amir Mizrahi, Chemistry Department, NRCN, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Eyal Ben-Yehuda, Chemistry Department, NRCN, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Svetlana Gelfer, Chemistry Department, NRCN, Beer-Sheva, Israel

Many studies have shown the successful functionalization of a polymeric matrix with different chelating moieties for metal ions removal. MF (Melamine-Formaldehyde) gel resin has suitable chemical and physical properties allowing the production of an adsorbent for heavy metal removal. For example, MF gel resin is highly porous and its matrix is a suitable platform for functionalization with some chelating compounds.

Previous works discussed MF-DTPA (linear chelating agent) adducts as heavy metal adsorbents. In this work, MF–cyclen DOTA derivatives e.g. AspDOTA, GlyDOTA and PropDOTA which function as chelating ligands especially for actinide ions, were synthesized and characterized (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR for the ligands, 13C MAS solid state NMR for the final functionalized polymer).

The efficiency for the extraction of U(VI) of the new modified MF-ligand has been evaluated and was found to depend on the nature of the ligand and the pH.

We demonstrate that the MF-AspDOTA resin is clearly the most efficient compound for U(VI) extraction in aqueous solution at pH 5.