Synthesis of phosphinic acid resin using acidic 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloroaluminate ionic liquid as catalyst

The resin is functionalized by the introduction of phosphinic acid moieties by Friedel–Crafts phosphination reaction using acidic 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloroaluminate ionic liquid as catalyst. The phosphorous and hydroxyl capacities of the resin are compared with those obtained by using conventional aluminium chloride catalysis. Extraction of uranium(VI) from nitric acid medium by the resins has been studied, and it was found that the distribution coefficient (K_d, mL/g) of uranium(VI) initially decreases with the increase in the concentration of nitric acid, and reaches a minimum value at 1.5 M in nitric acid followed by the increase in K_d values. A maximum distribution coefficient has been obtained when the concentration of nitric acid was 4.0–5.0 M. The extraction data have been fitted in to a Langmuir adsorption model for obtaining the apparent experimental capacity.