[2H08-12] Separation Technology

[2H09] Separation of Metal Ions using Stimulus-responsive Zwitterionic Polymer Brushes

*Naoki Kaisho¹, Takehiko Tsukahara¹ (1. Tokyo Tech)

Keywords:Separation, Stimulus-responsive polymer

Solvent extraction and chromatography have been generally used for the separation of radionuclides from high-level radioactive liquid wastes, but the produced secondary wastes generate negative impacts on the environment and safety. In this study, we succeeded to develop a novel separating material that stimulus-responsive copolymer containing poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and zwitterionic 3-((2-(Methacryloyloxy)ethyl)dimethylammonio)propane-1-sulfonate is immobilized on porous silica. We found that the developed copolymer brushes enable to adsorb and desorb metal ions such as lanthanides by only controlling temperature.