Nano-titanium(IV)tungstomolybdate cation exchanger has been synthesized via homogenous precipitation approach. Synthesis parameters have been optimized to get the highest ion exchange capacity (IEC). The as-synthesized nanoexchanger has been fully characterized by XRD, XRF, TEM, STEM/HAADF/EDS, FTIR and BET. The titanium(IV)tungstomolybdate behaves as bifunctional and strong acid cation exchanger with IEC of 2.41 meq g−1 for Na+ions. Very high distribution coefficient values for Pb2+ (Kd = 10767 mL g−1) and Cr3+ (Kd = 11800 mL g−1) ions indicate that the exchanger can be used to selectively adsorb Pb2+ and Cr3+ ions from the waste containing other metal ions. The exchanger has also showed a promising affinity towards a radionuclide UO22+ (Kd = 7043 mL g−1 in 0.1 M DMSO). The distribution study of the exchanger in different solvent systems showed promising separation potential of the exchanger towards metal ions of analytical interest from a given mixture for toxic heavy metal ions.

The financial support from the CSIC for Development (project COOPB20082), the Research and Extension Office of Haramaya University (HURG-2014-03-03) and Chemistry Department of HU are acknowledged. This work has been also (partially) funded by the Spanish State Research Agency (Agencia Española de Investigación, AEI) and the European Regional Development Fund (Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, FEDER) through the Project MAT2016-77496-R (AEI/FEDER, UE).

Peer reviewed