Sorption of scandium on acid-modified transcarpathian clinoptilolite

The sorption properties of acid-modified Transcarpathian clinoptilolite towards Sc(III) under dynamic conditions have been studied. It was found that the most effective acid-modifier is 0.5M HCl solution. Maximal sorption capacity is observed in the previously heat-treated at 50 °C samples of H-clinoptilolite in low alkaline solutions (pH=8.5). At this conditions almost all of the Sc(III) ions are in the form of neutral hydroxo complex [Sc(OH)
₃
(H
₂
O)
₃
]. The sorption capacity of H-clinoptilolite towards Sc(III) ions under optimum conditions is 9.98 mg/g.