Method for removing heavy metals and radionuclides
AssigneeSynlite Chemical Company LLC
InventorsJames M. Lockwood, Fred H. Green
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solid ion-exchange material useful for removing heavy metals or radionuclides from an aqueous or gaseous solution comprising a modified clinoptilolite, and methods of using same are provided.
Claims60
A method for removing heavy metals or radionuclides from an aqueous and/or gaseous solution comprising contacting said aqueous solution and/or gaseous solution an ion exchange material selected from a solid ion exchange material, a liquid ion exchange material, or mixtures thereof, wherein said ion exchange material is prepared by the process comprising:
- (a) contacting clinoptilolite with an alkaline solution at a temperature of about 85° C. to about 300° C. and for a sufficient time to form a treated slurry comprising a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, and optionally
- (b) separating the solid fraction from said treated slurry and washing the solid fraction to produce said solid ion exchange material;
- and
- (c) recovering the liquid fraction of said treated slurry from step (b) to produce said liquid ion exchange material;
- wherein when a solid ion exchange material is used, said solid ion exchange material is the solid ion exchange material of step (b);
- when a liquid ion exchange material is used, said liquid ion exchange material is the liquid ion exchange material of step (c);
- and when a mixture of said solid ion exchange material and said liquid ion exchange material is used, said mixture can be said treated slurry produced in step (a) or said mixture can be prepared by mixing said solid ion exchange material of step (b) with said liquid ion exchange material of step (c).
A process for producing an ion exchange material useful for removing heavy metals or radionuclides from an aqueous or gaseous solution comprising:
- (a) contacting clinoptilolite with an alkaline solution at a temperature of about 85° C. to about 300° C. and for a sufficient time to form a treated slurry comprising said ion exchange material comprising a solid fraction and a liquid fraction.
A solid ion exchange material for removing heavy metals or radionuclides from an aqueous or gaseous solution, said solid ion exchange material being produced by the process comprising:
- (a) contacting clinoptilolite with an alkaline solution at a temperature of about 85° C. to about 300° C. and for a sufficient time to form a treated slurry comprising a solid fraction and a liquid fraction,
- (b) separating the solid fraction from said treated slurry and washing the solid fraction to produce said solid ion exchange material.
A liquid ion exchange material for removing heavy metals or radionuclides from an aqueous or gaseous solution, said liquid ion-exchange material being produced by the process comprising:
- (a) contacting clinoptilolite with an alkaline solution at a temperature of about 85° C. to about 300° C. and for a sufficient time to form a treated slurry comprising a solid fraction and a liquid fraction;
- and
- (b) separating said liquid fraction from said treated slurry to produce said liquid ion exchange material.
A solid ion-exchange material useful for removing heavy metals or radionuclides from an aqueous or gaseous solution comprising a modified clinoptilolite comprising:
- (a) a silicon/aluminum (Si/Al) concentration ratio of about 1:1 to about 4:1, and
- (b) a sodium (Na) concentration of 20,000 mg/kg to about 140,000 mg/kg.
A liquid ion-exchange material useful for removing heavy metals and/or radionuclides from an aqueous or gaseous solution comprising:
- (a) about 2,500 mg/L to about 50,000 mg/L Si;
- (b) about 60 mg/L to about 1,200 mg/L Al;
- and
- (c) about 10,000 mg/L to about 200,000 mg/L hydroxide ion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.