Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
In a liquid membrane process for removing ions from solution which comprises contacting a feed solution containing a first ion with an emulsion, said emulsion comprising an internal phase and an external phase which is immiscible with both said feed solution and internal phase, said external phase containing a complexing agent dissolved therein which forms an external phase-soluble first complex with said first ion whereby said first ion diffuses through the external phase to the internal phase, the improvement which comprises said internal phase containing a second ion therein at a concentration greater than in the feed solution which converts said first complex to a second complex with the second ion, thereby simultaneously releasing said first ion into said internal phase in a form which remains present therein in a form chemically identical to that in which it exists in the feed solution said second complex also being soluble in said external phase, whereby said second ion diffuses from said internal phase into said feed solution, said contacting occurring for a time sufficient for at least a portion of said first ion to be removed from said feed solution.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
In a liquid membrane process for removing ions from solution which comprises contacting a feed solution containing a first ion with an emulsion, said emulsion comprising an internal phase and an external phase which is immiscible with both said feed solution and internal phase, said external phase containing a complexing agent dissolved therein which forms an external phase-soluble first complex with said first ion whereby said first ion diffuses through the external phase to the internal phase, the improvement which comprises said internal phase containing a second ion therein at a concentration greater than in the feed solution which converts said first complex to a second complex with the second ion, thereby simultaneously releasing said first ion into said internal phase in a form which remains present therein in a form chemically identical to that in which it exists in the feed solution said second complex also being soluble in said external phase, whereby said second ion diffuses from said internal phase into said feed solution, said contacting occurring for a time sufficient for at least a portion of said first ion to be removed from said feed solution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said second ion is hydrogen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said first ion comprises a metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said metal is copper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said complexing agent is an oil-soluble ion-exchange compound.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said ion-exchange compound is hydroxyoxime.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said first ion is copper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said ion exchange compound is a mixture of β-hydroxy benzophenone oxime and α-hydroxy oxime.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said first ion comprises mercury.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said first ion comprises chromium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said first ion comprises cadmium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said ion exchange compound is present in a concentration of about 0.5-20%.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
The process of claim 1 including the feature of controlling the concentration of said second ion in said feed solution so as to maintain a sufficiently lower concentration thereof in said feed solution relative to the concentration of said second ion in said internal phase, thereby promoting the diffusion of said first ion to the internal phase and said second ion to the feed solution.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
219 words
A process for removing cupric ion from an aqueous feed solution containing same which comprises contacting said feed solution with an emulsion having an internal aqueous phase containing hydrogen ions and an external oily phase containing a hydroxyoxime ion-exchange compound, said external phase being immiscible with both said feed solution and said internal phase, and wherein said ion exchange compound forms a complex with cupric ion at a pH of greater than about 1 to from a complex of said cupric ion and said ion-exchange compound at the interface of the feed solution and external phase to diffuse said cupric ion through the external phase to the internal phase of the emulsion wherein said cupric ion is released as cupric ion and wherein hydrogen ion in the internal phase replaces the cupric ion of the complex to form a hydrogen ion complex with the ion-exchange compound which then permits the hydrogen ion to diffuse back to the interface of the external phase and feed solution to release hydrogen ion into said feed solution and reform the cupric ion complex with the ion exchange compound, said contacting of the feed solution and emulsion being carried out while the pH of the feed solution is greater than about 1 and the pH of the internal phase is less than about 1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
219 words
A process for removing cupric ion from an aqueous feed solution containing same which comprises contacting said feed solution with an emulsion having an internal aqueous phase containing hydrogen ions and an external oily phase containing a hydroxyoxime ion-exchange compound, said external phase being immiscible with both said feed solution and said internal phase, and wherein said ion exchange compound forms a complex with cupric ion at a pH of greater than about 1 to from a complex of said cupric ion and said ion-exchange compound at the interface of the feed solution and external phase to diffuse said cupric ion through the external phase to the internal phase of the emulsion wherein said cupric ion is released as cupric ion and wherein hydrogen ion in the internal phase replaces the cupric ion of the complex to form a hydrogen ion complex with the ion-exchange compound which then permits the hydrogen ion to diffuse back to the interface of the external phase and feed solution to release hydrogen ion into said feed solution and reform the cupric ion complex with the ion exchange compound, said contacting of the feed solution and emulsion being carried out while the pH of the feed solution is greater than about 1 and the pH of the internal phase is less than about 1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said internal phase comprises from 25 to 200 grams/liter H 2 SO 4 .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 15 wherein said external phase contains a mixture of β-hydroxy benzophenone oxime and α-hydroxy oxime.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 16 wherein said mixture is present in a concentration of from about 1-10%.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 14 wherein a base is added to said feed solution in an amount sufficient to maintain the pH thereof at greater than about 1.