Metal sorption properties of sulfur-chlorinated jojoba wax bound to polystyrene beads

A new solid extractant (designated PS-DETA-JS) in which sulfur-chlorinated jojoba wax is bound via an amine spacer group to polystyrene beads was synthesized. The absorption of mercury cations from acidic solutions and of chromate anions from saline solutions onto PS-DETA-JS was investigated. The sorption of mercury ions by the solid extractant was compared with that by liquid-sulfurized jojoba wax impregnated inside macroporous resins. The static and dynamic properties of dichromate sorption from 2-20 g/L NaCl solutions at pH 4.1 were studied. Selective sorption of Cr(VI) was obtained at low chromate concentrations (∼6 ppm) in saline aqueous solutions. Complete regeneration of the PS-DETA-JS resin was achieved after the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) and the elution of the Cr(III) with 1N HCl.