Novel ion exchange materials
AssigneeFortum Power and Heat Oy
InventorsRisto Harjula, Risto Koivula, Mikko Ritala, Eero Santala, Jani Holopainen, Esko Tusa
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Abstract
The invention relates to a new use of spun, continuous inorganic fibers having a diameter smaller than 1 μm in the form of monolithic structures with at least one dimension equal to or greater than about 50 μm. The monolithic structures are formed by self-entanglement of the continuous fibers as an ion exchange material. In particular the invention relates to a new ion exchange material bed comprising such fibers and ion exchange unit comprising such bed. The invention improves the efficiency and sustainability of ion exchangers.
Claims27
An inorganic material capable of binding cations, anions or colloidal particles or mixtures thereof from liquid media by ion exchange or sorption, said material comprising:
- continuous inorganic fibers having a diameter smaller than 1 μm,
- said fibers being entangled and present in the form of a monolithic structure with at least one dimension of 50 μm or more.
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An ion exchange unit, comprising a housing with:
- an inlet for liquid to be subjected to ion exchange, and
- an outlet for liquid having been subjected to ion exchange, said housing further comprising:
- a bed of an ion exchange material, said bed having a first end which is in liquid contact with the inlet and an opposite second end which is in liquid contact with the outlet, and
- said ion exchange material comprising continuous inorganic fibers having a diameter smaller than 1 μm, said fibers being entangled and present in the form of a monolithic structure having at least one dimension of about 50 μm or more.
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A method of producing an inorganic material capable of binding cations, anions or colloidal particles or mixtures thereof from liquid media by ion exchange or sorption, said material comprising:
- forming a plurality continuous inorganic fibers having a diameter smaller than 1 μm into a fiber mass comprising an entangled network of the inorganic fibers;
- optionally breaking up the fiber mass;
- and
- recovering the fiber mass in the form of a monolithic structure having a smallest dimension of about 50 μm or more.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.