# US 6,296,760 B1 · Device for the removal and concentration of ionic metal species from water > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,296,760 B1 - Document ID: US6296760B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/261,172 - Filed: 1999-03-03 - Granted: 2001-10-02 - Earliest claimed: 1999-03-03 - Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Interior - Inventors: Jimmie D. Petty; William G. Brumbaugh; James N. Huckins; Thomas W. May; Raymond Wiedmeyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6296760B1 ## CPC - G01N 1/4005: {by transferring a selected component through a membrane} - B01D 61/00: Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltration; Apparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor (separation of gases or vapours by diffusion B01D53/22) - B01J 45/00: Ion-exchange in which a complex or a chelate is formed; Use of material as complex or chelate forming ion-exchangers; Treatment of material for improving the complex or chelate forming ion-exchange properties (ion-exchange chromatography processes B01D15/36) - C02F 1/28: by sorption (using ion-exchange C02F1/42; sorbent compositions B01J) - C02F 1/44: by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis {(general membrane separation processes B01D61/00, membrane modules B01D63/00, electrodialysis C02F1/4693, combination of membrane modules and bioreactors C02F3/1268)} - C02F 1/683: {by addition of complex-forming compounds} - C02F 2101/20: Heavy metals or heavy metal compounds - G01N 2001/4016: {being a selective membrane, e.g. dialysis or osmosis} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - 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 device is provided for capturing ionic metal species (e.g., Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) dissolved in water. The device includes a nonporous polymeric tube for capturing the dissolved ionic metal species. The tube is formed from a membrane having transient cavities therein having an average pore size greater than 10 Å. A sequestration medium, contained within the tube, transforms the ionic metal species captured by the tube into a complexed, non-mobile metal species. The sequestration medium is capable of diffusing through the nonporous polymeric membrane at a controlled rate to form the complexed, non-mobile species and can comprise a mixture and metal complexing agent (e.g., a quinoline) and a long chain organic acid (e.g., oleic acid). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for removing and concentrating ionic metal species from water, said device comprising: a nonporous polymeric membrane for capturing on an external surface thereof ionic metal species dissolved in water; and a hydrophobic sequestration medium contained by said membrane for transforming the ionic metal species captured by said membrane into a complexed, non-mobile metal species. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hydrophobic sequestration media comprises a sequestration medium capable of diffusing through the polymeric membrane at a controlled rate and of forming said complexed, non-mobile metal species. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein, said sequestration medium comprises a mixture of a metal complexing agent and a long chain organic acid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said complexing agent comprises a complexing agent selected from the group consisting of quinolines, dithiocarbamates, polyamines, iminodiacetate, polyketones, and thiols and said organic acid comprises an organic acid selected from the group consisting of oleic acid, steric acid, eladic acid, linoleic acide, and linolenic acid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said complexing agent comprises alkyl substituted 8-hydroxy quinolines. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said quinolines comprise 7-(4-ethyl-1-methyloctyl)-8-hydroxy quinoline and said organic acid comprises oleic acid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nonporous membrane forms a sealed tube and said sequestration media is contained within the tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said tube comprises a flattened tube. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a microporous polymer surrounding the tube formed by the nonporous membrane. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said nonporous polymeric membrane comprises a nonporous synthetic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, silicone, polyvinylchloride, chlorinated polyethylene, chlorosuphonated polyethylenes, polyimides, and polyethylene vinylacetate copolymers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein membrane comprises a said synthetic nonporous polymer laminated with a microporous polymer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said nonporous membrane has a thickness between 2 and 500 μm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) A device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a sheath for permitting movement of water and associated ionic metal species to membrane surface sites at which reaction with the sequestration phase occurs while limiting water flow past said membrane surface sites. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said sheath comprises a hydrophilic polymer membrane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said sheath comprises a hydrophilic membrane selected from the group consisting of cellulose dialysis membranes, and hydrophilic polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride and polyether sulphone polymer membranes. ### Claim 16 A device for removing and concentrating ionic metal species from water, said device comprising: a nonporous polymeric tube for capturing ionic metal species dissolved in water, said tube being comprised of a membrane having a transient cavities therein having average size no greater than 10 Å; and a sequestration medium contained within said tube for transforming the ionic metal species captured by said tube into a complexed, non-mobile metal species, said sequestration medium comprising a medium capable of diffusing through the nonporous polymeric membrane at a controlled rate and of forming said complexed, non-mobile species. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A device as claimed in claim 16 wherein, said sequestration medium comprises a mixture of a metal complexing agent and a long chain organic acid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A device as claimed in claim 17 wherein said complexing agent comprises a complexing agent selected from the group consisting of quinolines, dithiocarbamates, polyamines, iminodiacetate, polyketones, and thiols and said organic acid comprises an organic acid selected from the group consisting of oleic acid, steric acid, eladic acid, linoleic acide, and linolenic acid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A device as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a microporous polymer surrounding the tube formed by the nonporous membrane. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) A device as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a sheath for permitting movement of water and associated ionic metal species to membrane surface sites at which reaction with the sequestration phase occurs while limiting water flow past said membrane surface sites.