Abstract
A strongly acidic cation-exchange resin Amberlite IR-120 was successfully used for the separation of toxic metal ions. The distribution coefficient values for various metal ions were performed in different acidic mediums using Amberlite IR-120 resin columns. On the basis of distribution coefficient values, Amberlite IR-120 was found to be selective for Pb super(2+) ion. A number of important quantitative binary separations of metal ions viz. Cd super(2+)- Pb super(2+), Hg super(2+)- Pb super(2+), Cu super(2+)- Pb super(2+), Zn super(2+)- Pb super(2+), Cd super(2+)- Al super(3+), and Mg super(2+)- Al super(3+) were achieved on the columns of this resin. In order to demonstrate the practical utility of these separations, Mg super(2+) and Al super(3+) were determined in commercially available pharmaceutical preparation namely digene using Amberlite IR-120 resin columns. The regeneration studies were carried out which demonstrated a decrease in the recovery of Pb super(2+) from 88 to 74% after five consecutive cycles.