Exchange kinetic studies on zirconium antimonophosphate

500-505Exchange kinetics of the alkaline earth metal ions with labile protons of the synthetic ion exchanger zirconium anti monophosphate has been studied, using the limited bath technique. Effect of concentration, particle size and temperature on the extent of exchange at the solution-solid in terrace are reported. The Boyd method for studing the kinetics of spherical particles is used to explain the results. Distinction between particle diffusion and film diffusion has been made by interruption test. The overall studies indicate that the effective diffusion coefficient consists of two components, an initial fast exchange and later a slow exchange, representing the inter-diffusion of counter ions through the pores of the exchanger matrix, with increase in temperature. The contribution of the faster component decreases, probably because the metal ions diffuse as dehydrated ions and the dehydration of the metal ions is easy at lower temperature. The effect of concentration and particle size on the exchange rate are also discussed