Molecularly imprinted polymer beads for extraction of metals and uses thereof
Assignee6th Wave Innovations Corp.
InventorsJonathan P. Gluckman, Glen E. Southard
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) technology for selectively sequestering one or more target molecules from chemical mixtures. Also disclosed herein are MIP beads and methods of making and using thereof.
Claims31
A method of selectively sequestering one or more target metal ions from a solution of the one or more target metal ion ions admixed with other ions, comprising first contacting a plurality of macroreticular polymer beads with a stripping solution, whereby the non-metal surrogate ions are removed from the macroreticular polymer beads, then contacting the stripped beads with the solution of the one or more target metal ion ions admixed with other ions, thereby selectively sequestering the target metal ion in the macroreticular polymer beads,
- wherein the macroreticular polymer beads comprise a copolymer having a plurality of complexing cavities which selectively bind the target metal ion, wherein the copolymer is prepared from:
- (a) a ligand monomer which is a 4-vinylbenzyl ammonium compound and is complexed to a non-metal surrogate ion,
- (b) a non-ligand monomer;
- and
- (c) a crosslinking monomer;
- wherein:
- (i) the charge of the copolymer in the complexing cavity is opposite the charge of the target metal ion, and
- (ii) the non-metal surrogate ion has substantially the same shape and charge as the target metal ion.
A method of recovering gold from gold-containing ore, comprising:
- (1) crushing the gold-containing ore,
- (2) contacting the crushed ore with a lixiviant, thereby forming an aqueous solution comprising an anionic gold complex,
- (3) contacting the aqueous solution with a plurality of macroreticular polymer beads, whereby the anionic gold complex is selectively complexed in the complexing cavities of the beads,
- (4) stripping the beads with a stripping solution, whereby the anionic gold complex is substantially removed from the beads, and
- (5) electrolytically reducing the recovered gold complex to form gold metal, wherein the macroreticular polymer beads comprise a copolymer having a plurality of complexing cavities which selectively bind the target metal ion, wherein the copolymer is prepared from:
- (a) a ligand monomer which is a 4-vinylbenzyl ammonium compound and is complexed to a non-metal surrogate ion,
- (b) a non-ligand monomer;
- and
- (c) a crosslinking monomer;
- wherein:
- (i) the charge of the copolymer in the complexing cavity is opposite the charge of the target metal ion, and
- (ii) the non-metal surrogate ion has substantially the same shape and charge as the target metal ion.
A plurality of macroreticular polymer beads comprising a copolymer having a plurality of complexing cavities which selectively bind a lithium target metal ion, wherein the copolymer is prepared from:
- (a) a ligand monomer which is anionic and is complexed to a non-metal surrogate ion,
- (b) a non-ligand monomer, and
- (c) a crosslinking monomer;
- wherein:
- (i) the charge of the copolymer in the complexing cavity is opposite the charge of the lithium target metal ion, and
- (ii) the non-metal surrogate ion has substantially the same shape and charge as the lithium target metal ion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.