Processes for removing, separating and concentrating lead, thallium, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals from concentrated matrices using macrocyclic polyether cryptand ligands bonded to inorganic supports

A method for the concentration, removal and separation of desired metals selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, alkaline earth metal Pb and Tl present as cations from a source solution which comprises

• (a) bringing said source solution having a first volume into contact with a compound comprising an oxygen donor macrocycle-containing ligand covalently bonded to a solid inorganic support matrix represented by the formula:
• ##STR5## wherein, R.sub.3', R.sub.4', R.sub.5' and R.sub.6' is H or a spacer formed from the reaction of a member selected from the group consisting of allyloxymethyl, alkylthio, alkylamino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl and epoxyalkyl with an --Si(X)(X)-- moiety used for attachment to --O--Matrix,
• R.sub.7 is a member selected from the group consisting of H, or alkyl,
• Z is a member selected from the group consisting of o-phenylene and o-naphthylene,
• R.sub.1' and R.sub.2' is H or a spacer formed from the reaction of a member selected from the group consisting of allyl, alkenyl, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, allyloxy, aminoalkyl, hydroxy, thio and alkylthio with an --Si(X)(X)-- moiety used for attachment to --O--Matrix,
• n is an integer of from 2 to 4,
• a is an integer of 0 or 1,
• b is an integer of 0 to 3 with the proviso that b must be at least 1 when a is 0,
• and m is an integer of 0 to 5,
• Matrix is a solid support material selected from the group consisting of sand, silica gel, glass, glass fibers, alumina, nickel oxide, zirconia, titania, and equivalent substances,
• X is a member selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, I, alkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkyl, substituted alkoxy and O--matrix,
• with the further proviso that one but not more than two of the R.sub.1' through R.sub.6' groups must be a spacer reacted with an --Si(X)(X)-- moiety used for attachment to --O--Matrix and remaining R.sub.1' through R.sub.6' groups are H;
• said ligand portion of said compound having an affinity for said alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, Pb and/or Tl cations to form a complex between the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, Pb and/or Tl cations and said oxygen donor macrocyclic containing ligand portion of said compound;
• (b) removing source solution from contact with said compound to which said desired metal cations have been complexed;
• and
• (c) contacting said compound having said desired metal cations complexed thereto with a smaller volume of an aqueous receiving solution in which said desired metal cations are either soluble or which has greater affinity for such desired metal cations than does the oxygen donor macrocyclic ligand thereby quantitatively stripping such cations from the ligand and recovering said desired metal cations in concentrated form in said receiving solution.