Process for using magnetically ballasted sorbents
AssigneeGeneral Technology Applications, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Weitzen, Jerry C. Trippe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Solid sorbents such as activated carbon and ion exchange resins are ballasted with finely divided particles of a non-corrosive, magnetic iron-chromium alloy to increase their effective specific gravity and to render them recoverable by magnetic means. The sorbents are used to selectively extract one or more constituents contained in a liquid as by contacting in a multi-stage fluidized bed.
Claims15
In a process wherein a liquid is contacted with solid sorbent granules in a fluidized bed to selectively capture and remove at least one constituent therefrom, the improvement comprising:
- ballasting the sorbent granules with finely divided particles of a corrosion-resistant, magnetic, iron-chromium alloy, said sorbent granules containing at least 5% by weight of said alloy particles and displaying a settling velocity in the liquid of at least 30 cm per minute.
A process for sorbing heavy metal ions from aqueous solution comprising:
- passing said ion-containing solution upwardly through a bed of sorbent granules at a rate sufficient to at least about double the settled volume of the granules, said granules ballasted with at least 5% by weight of finely divided particles of a corrosion resistant, iron-chromium, magnetic alloy and displaying a settling velocity in the liquid of at least about 30 cm per minute;
- periodically removing from the bottom of said bed a portion of liquid containing sorbent granules loaded with sorbed heavy metal ions and magnetically separating the sorbent granules from the liquid, and
- introducing a like portion of fresh sorbent granules into the top of said bed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.