# US 2023/0264170 A1 · Functionalised alumina adsorbent materials for removal of contaminants from water

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- Number: US 2023/0264170 A1
- Document ID: US20230264170A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/124,139
- Filed: 2023-03-21
- Published: 2023-08-24
- Earliest claimed: 2022-02-16
- Assignees: Puraffinity Ltd.
- Applicants: Puraffinity Ltd
- Inventors: Octavia Ann BLACKBURN; Khai Duong Quang NGUYEN; Liberty Jocasta ROCKEY; Aiden Sinan MCGUIRK; Alex Michael JAMES; Nathan CLEMENCE; Simon Paul FOXON
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230264170A1

## CPC

- 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 20/08: comprising aluminium oxide or hydroxide; comprising bauxite
- B01J 20/261: {obtained by reactions only involving carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds (macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds per se C08F)}
- B01J 20/265: {modified or post-treated polymers (polymer carriers or substrates subjected to further impregnating or coating B01J20/3208)}
- B01J 20/28004: {Sorbent size or size distribution, e.g. particle size}
- B01J 20/28016: {Particle form}
- B01J 20/28057: {Surface area, e.g. B.E.T specific surface area}
- B01J 20/28059: {being less than 100 m2/g}
- B01J 20/28061: {being in the range 100-500 m2/g}
- B01J 20/28069: {Pore volume, e.g. total pore volume, mesopore volume, micropore volume}
- B01J 20/28078: {Pore diameter}
- B01J 20/28083: {being in the range 2-50 nm, i.e. mesopores}
- B01J 20/28085: {being more than 50 nm, i.e. macropores}
- B01J 20/28092: {Bimodal, polymodal, different types of pores or different pore size distributions in different parts of the sorbent}
- B01J 20/3092: {Packing of a container, e.g. packing a cartridge or column (of chromatography columns B01D15/206)}
- B01J 20/3204: {Inorganic carriers, supports or substrates}
- B01J 20/3219: {involving a particular spacer or linking group, e.g. for attaching an active group}
- B01J 20/3227: {by end-capping, i.e. with or after the introduction of functional or ligand groups}
- B01J 20/3236: {containing metal, other than zeolites, e.g. oxides, hydroxides, sulphides or salts}
- B01J 20/328: {Polymers on the carrier being further modified}
- C02F 1/288: {using composite sorbents, e.g. coated, impregnated, multi-layered}
- C02F 1/281: {using inorganic sorbents}
- C02F 1/285: {using synthetic organic sorbents}
- C02F 2101/36: containing halogen
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- 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

A composition is provided for removal of a target substance from a fluid stream. The composition may be used to remove polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) from water. The composition comprises a support material comprising an alumina; and a sorbent molecule that comprises a core polymer; wherein the core polymer is covalently linked to the support material; and wherein the sorbent molecule further comprises one or more covalently linked sorbent groups. Processes for removal of target substances such as PFAS are also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A composition for removal of a poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substance (PFAS) from an aqueous liquid, the composition comprising:
a particulate support material comprising a bimodal alumina having pores within a mesoporous range and pores within a macroporous range;
(i) wherein a majority of the pores within the mesoporous range have an average pore size of between 2 nm and 50 nm; and
(ii) wherein the bimodal alumina has a BET pore volume within the mesoporous range of not less than around 0.20 cm3/g; and
a sorbent molecule that comprises a linear or branched core polymer selected from one or more of: poly(ethylenimine); poly(allylamine); poly(methylmethacrylate); poly(vinylalcohol); poly(vinylamine); poly(vinylchloride); poly(2-vinylpyridine); poly(3-vinylpyridine); or poly(4-vinylpyridine);
wherein the linear or branched core polymer is covalently linked to the particulate support material; and
wherein the sorbent molecule further comprises one or more covalently linked sorbent groups.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the alumina has an average pore size within the mesoporous range of between about 2 about 20 nm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein a majority of the pores within the macroporous range have an average pore size of between 1 μm and 10 μm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the core polymer comprises a linear or branched poly(ethylenimine) having a weight average molecular weight of not less than around 25 kDa.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the covalently linked sorbent groups comprise one or more groups selected from:
a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C12 alkyl group; a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C12 alkenyl group; a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C12 alkynyl group; a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C12 alkoxy group; a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C12 acyl group; a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group; a heterocyclic group; and a hydrogen atom.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the core polymer comprises at least one tertiary amino group and wherein the at least one tertiary amino group is converted to a quaternary nitrogen.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the core polymer comprises C1-C10 alkyl substituted linear poly(ethylenimine).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the core polymer comprises C1-C6 alkyl substituted branched poly(ethylenimine).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein support material is in a form selected from: granular; powder; and spheroidal particles.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A process for removal of a target substance from a fluid stream that comprises water, the process comprising contacting the fluid stream with a composition as defined in claim 1, and wherein the target substance comprises one or more poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS).

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The process of claim 10, wherein the PFAS is selected from a perfluorinated anionic surfactant compound, including one or more selected from the group consisting of:
perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS); perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA); perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA); perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHS); perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHA); perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA); perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS); perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA); and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA); 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSA); and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA).

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The process of claim 10, wherein the linear or branched PEI has weight average molecular weight of not less than around 25 kDa.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The process of claim 10, wherein the particulate alumina is in a form selected from: granular; powder; and spheroidal particles.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The process of claim 10, wherein the support material is comprised within a packed bed.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The process of claim 14, wherein the support material is comprised within a filter unit.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A filter for the adsorption of one or more PFAS from a contaminated water source, wherein the filter comprises a composition as described in claim 1.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The filter of claim 16, wherein the filter is configured as a point-of-use (POU) filter.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The filter of claim 17, wherein the filter is comprised within a replaceable cartridge.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The filter of claim 16, wherein the filter is configured to be incorporated into a point-of-entry (POE) system.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The filter of claim 16, wherein the composition is comprised within a packed bed that is configured to permit a minimum water flow rate there-through of at least 2 litres/min.