Thioanion-functionalized polypyrroles for metal ion capture
AssigneeNorthwestern University
InventorsMercouri G. Kanatzidis, Shulan Ma
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Abstract
Polypyrrole polymers functionalized with thioanions and methods for their use in metal capture applications are provided. Also provided are methods for making the polypyrroles using anion exchange techniques. The thioanion-functionalized polypyrroles have a conjugated, positively charged backbone of pyrrole units that is charge-balanced with associated thioanions.
Claims20
A method of removing metal ions from a sample comprising at least two different transition metal ions, using a thioanion-functionalized polypyrrole comprising:
- a conjugated, positively charged backbone of pyrrole units;
- and
- charge-balancing thioanions associated with the conjugated, positively charged backbone of pyrrole units,
- the method comprising:
- exposing the thioanion-functionalized polypyrrole to the sample comprising the at least two different transition metal ions, wherein at least one of the at least two different transition metal ions is adsorbed by the thioanion-functionalized polypyrrole;
- and
- removing the thioanion-functionalized polypyrrole and the absorbed transition metal ions from the sample.
A method of removing metal ions from a sample, wherein the sample is an aqueous solution comprising the metal ions and having a pH of no greater than 6, using a thioanion-functionalized polypyrrole comprising:
- a conjugated, positively charged backbone of pyrrole units;
- and
- charge-balancing thioanions associated with the conjugated, positively charged backbone of pyrrole units,
- the method comprising:
- exposing the thioanion-functionalized polypyrrole to the sample, wherein the metal ions are adsorbed by the thioanion-functionalized polypyrrole;
- and
- removing the thioanion-functionalized polypyrrole and the absorbed metal ions from the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.