US3763049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for the continuous recovery of materials from sea water
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-07-16
•
Granted: 1973-10-02
•
Expires: 1991-07-16
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and process for the recovery of materials from sea water and brine wherein valuable constituents of sea water and brine, such as ionic substances, are recovered by employing an endless belt of a supported activated clay-mineral material characterized by a sheet-silicate structure therein; for example, vermiculite. Such a belt is passed through a series of stations comprising an activating station for the vermiculite, and a contacting station wherein the activated vermiculite absorbs into its laminar-spacing area the material to be recovered from the sea water or brine, and an elution station wherein the material so recovered is eluted from the vermiculite on the endless belt and the process repeated to provide an elution bath of recovered material.
Inventors
- 👤 A Gerber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:01
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J20/00; B01J20/02; B01J20/10; B01D; B01D15/00; B01D15/02; B01J47/00; B01J47/12; C; C01; C01B; C01B19/00; C01B19/001; B01D15/08; B01D15/10; B01D15/18; B01D15/1892; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S423/00; Y10S423/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the sheet material comprises an endless belt of a nonabsorptive polymeric sheeT material capable of being transported by rollers and the clay-mineral substance secured to at least one surface thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the clay-mineral substance employed comprises mica or vermiculite.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the sheet material comprises the clay-mineral material secured to the surface of a sheet material by an adhesive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the clay-mineral substance comprises a sheet silicate structure separated by magnesium, calcium, iron, or aluminum cations or combinations thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the sheet material is activated by passing the sheet material into an aqueous dilute mineral acid solution or a solution of ammonium hydroxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the sheet material is activated by passing the sheet material into a dilute hydrochloric acid solution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 1 which includes removing excess liquid bath containing the activating compound from the sheet by passing the sheet through rollers to compress and remove liquid from the surface of the sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 1 which includes contacting the activated sheet material with water containing, as a material to be recovered in ionic form, selenium, uranium, thorium, yttrium, gold, silver, lithium, iodine, paladium, platinum, copper, and vanadium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the sheet material is contacted with sea or brackish water to recover from the water ionic materials.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 which includes removing excess water from the contacted activated sheet material by passing the sheet material through compressing rollers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the absorbed material is eluted from the sheet material employing the same material as that used to activate the sheet material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the absorbed material in the sheet material is eluted employing a material different from that used to activate the sheet material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the absorbed material is eluted from the sheet material by employing an organic solvent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the absorbed material is recovered from the sheet material by precipitating the recovered material from a solution employing a base, the material recovered as a salt.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
The process of recovering valuable materials dissolved or suspended in sea water, which process comprises: a. contacting sea water with an activated sheet silicate compound having a spaced laminar area separated by cations to absorb within the sheet silicate structure of the compound the material to be recovered; treating the sheet silicate compound to elute the absorbed material; and c. recovering the material from the elutate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 16 wherein the process includes: activating the treated sheet silicate compound from which the materials are eluted, and reusing such silicate compound in the process.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 16 wherein the process includes: removing excess sea water from the sheet silicate compound prior to the treating step.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 16 wherein the material to be recovered includes selenium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 16 wherein the sheet silicate compound is activated vermiculite or mica.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
97 words
A process for the recovery of selenium from sea water which comprises: a. providing a sheet material containing activated expanded mica; b. exposing the sheet material to the ocean water to absorb selenium ions within the activated mica; c. removing the sheet material from the sea water; d. elutriating the sheet material with ethanol to form a first elutriation; e. elutriating the sheet material with acetic acid to obtain a second elutriation; f. filtering the first and second elutriations to form first and second filtrates; and g. recovering the selenium by evaporting the second filtrate to dryness.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3155454A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |