Abstract
Introduction. According to scientists, the shortage of drinking and fresh water may become a global environmental issue. This article discusses the synthesis of new ion exchangers using natural resources. An ion-exchange sorbent was synthesized from the mineral vermiculite for the sorption of metal ions from water resources. Purpose: To create an organomineral sorbent using vermiculite and epoxyacrylate copolymers and evaluate its sorption properties for MoO₄²⁻ and ReO₄⁻ ions. Methods: Synthesis was conducted in a microwave at 300 W for 10 minutes, with orthophosphoric acid amounts increased two- and threefold. Results and Discussion: The sorbent is suitable for hydrometallurgy and water purification. Optimal conditions for modifying vermiculite with glycidyl methacrylate and orthophosphoric acid were established. The static exchange capacity for a 0.1 N HCl solution was 5.91 mg-eq/g. Sorption capacity reached 39.8 mg/g for MoO₄²⁻ ions (94% recovery) and 39.06 mg/g for ReO₄⁻ ions (96% recovery). Conclusion: The studies demonstrated that the organomineral sorbent exhibits high sorption capacity for MoO₄²⁻ ions, reaching 39.8 mg/g with a recovery rate of 94%, and for ReO₄⁻ ions, the sorption capacity was 39.06 mg/g, with a recovery rate of 96%.