Design and Evaluation of Chelating Resins through EDTA- and DTPA-Modified Ligands

Ion-exchange resins through EDTA or DTPA moieties are synthesized and evaluated for the co-extraction of Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺ radionuclides for wastewater treatment. EDTA-bis(amide) and DTPA-bis(amide) derivatives bearing phenol or catechol moieties obtained from tyramine or dopamine, respectively, were used as building blocks to prepare ion-exchange resins. Their synthesis involved the condensation of formaldehyde with various phenolic rings, catechol (C), resorcinol (R), or calixresorcinarene (CR) under alkaline conditions. The resulting formo-phenolic-like resins have both ion-exchange and chelating groups in their structure and are indeed efficient in the remediation of Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺, even in salted aqueous solutions.