# US 2020/0392284 A1 · Thioanion-functionalized polypyrroles for metal ion capture

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- Number: US 2020/0392284 A1
- Document ID: US20200392284A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/771,365
- Filed: 2018-12-14
- Published: 2020-12-17
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-15
- Assignees: Northwestern University
- Applicants: Northwestern University
- Inventors: Mercouri G. Kanatzidis; Shulan Ma
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200392284A1

## CPC

- B01J 20/3212: {consisting of a polymer obtained by reactions otherwise than involving only carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds}
- C08G 61/124: {with a five-membered ring containing one nitrogen atom in the ring}
- B01J 20/262: {obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. obtained by polycondensation (macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds per se C08G)}
- B01J 20/3236: {containing metal, other than zeolites, e.g. oxides, hydroxides, sulphides or salts}
- B01J 20/345: {using a particular desorbing compound or mixture (elution or regeneration of stationary phases in liquid chromatography B01D15/08)}
- C02F 1/28: by sorption (using ion-exchange C02F1/42; sorbent compositions B01J)
- C02F 1/285: {using synthetic organic sorbents}
- C08G 73/0611: {with only one nitrogen atom in the ring, e.g. polypyrroles (polysuccinimides C08G73/1092)}
- C02F 2101/20: Heavy metals or heavy metal compounds
- C02F 2101/22: Chromium or chromium compounds, e.g. chromates
- C02F 2209/06: pH
- C08G 2261/1644: comprising other functional groups, e.g. OH groups, NH groups, COOH groups or boronic acid
- C08G 2261/72: Derivatisation
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The thioanion-functionalized polypyrrole of claim 1, wherein the thioanions comprise molybdenum thioanions.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The thioanion-functionalized polypyrrole of claim 2, wherein the molybdenum thioanions comprise MoS42− anions.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The thioanion-functionalized polypyrrole of claim 1, wherein the thioanions comprise antimony thioanions.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The thioanion-functionalized polypyrrole of claim 1, wherein the thioanions comprise tin thioanions.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The thioanion-functionalized polypyrrole of claim 1, wherein the thioanions comprise phosphorus thioanions.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The thioanion-functionalized polypyrrole of claim 2, wherein the thioanions comprise Mo3S132− anions, SbS33− anions, SbS43− anions, Sx2− anions, wherein x=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6), SH1− anions, Sb2S44− anions, SnS44− anions, Sn2S64− anions, Sn4S104− anions, WS42− anions, PS4-xO3− anions, wherein (x=1, 2, or 3), or a mixture of two or more thereof.

### Claim 8

A method of removing metal ions from a sample comprising the 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, wherein metal ions are adsorbed by the thioanion-functionalized polypyrrole; and
removing the thioanion-functionalized polypyrrole and the absorbed metal ions from the sample.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the thioanions comprise molybdenum thioanions.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the molybdenum thioanions comprise MoS42− anions.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the thioanions comprise antimony thioanions.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the thioanions comprise tin thioanions.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the thioanions comprise phosphorus thioanions.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the sample is an aqueous solution having a pH of no greater than 6.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the sample is an aqueous solution having a pH of no greater than 5.

### Claim 16 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the sample is an aqueous solution having a pH in the range from 0.5 to 1.5.

### Claim 17 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the metal ions include Ag+ ions, Hg2+ ions, Pb2+ ions, Cu2+ ions, Cr6+ ions, Tl+ ions, Cd2+ ions, or a combination of two or more thereof.

### Claim 18 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the metal ions include Ag+ ions.

### Claim 19 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the sample is an aqueous solution having a pH in the range from 0.5 to 1.5 and the sample comprises Ag+ ions and Cu2+ ions.