Project Description

The project aims at the indigenous fabrication of probe (chelating ionophore) grafted i.e., functionalized porous polymer monoliths as HPLC (RP) columns for the efficient and fast separations of lanthanides and actinides. In addition, we have fabricated a variety of multi-functional solid-phase extractant materials through chemical grafting of color effusing ionophoric probes onto polymer monoliths that are responsive to selected lanthanides and actinides. The project is a novel attempt towards in-house designing and fabrication of structurally uniform porous polymer monolith columns, thereby eliminating the cost arising from commercial procurements.

Herein, we prepare a range of monolith columns using a variety of amide/organo phosphorous functional monomers and cross-linkers. These amide/organophosphorus probes are tailor-made to selectively interact with targeted lanthanides and actinides, thereby ensuring sequential separation. Moreover, we also address the challenges (with commercial monolith columns) in preparing monolithic columns with higher contents of anchored amide/organo phosphorous probes that could ensure better interaction and well-resolved separation of analytes. The structural design of probe grafted monolith columns will ensure high surface area and porosity, thereby facilitating efficient and faster separation. In addition, these functionalized monolith columns avoid the necessity for column pre-derivatization and also eliminate the necessity for organic solvents