US4324767A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Separation process utilizing microcapsules
Assignee: Occidental Research Corp
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Filing: 1980-08-04
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Granted: 1982-04-13
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Expires: 2000-08-04
Abstract
Abstract The instant invention relates to a process for removing a species from a fluid which comprises (a) contacting said fluid with a hollow microcapsule, said microcapsule having a wall surrounding an internal void, said wall being substantially insoluble in said fluid and said species being permeable to said wall; (b) permeating said species through said wall into said void; (c) converting said permeated species, in said void into a species which is impermeable to said wall; (d) separating said microcapsule from said fluid; (e) converting the impermeable species of step (c) into a species which is permeable to said wall; and (f) permeating the permeable species of step (e) through said wall. Preferably said void contains a reagent which together with said permeated species form a reversible oxidation-reduction couple. In the instant preferred embodiment said permeated species is converted into an impermeable species by means of said oxidation-reduction reaction to trap said impermeable species in said void. The spent microcapsules, i.e. microcapsules are no longer capable of converting the permeable species of step (c) into an impermeable species, are regenerated by reconverting the impermeable species into a permeable species by reversing such oxidation-reduction reaction by means of heat, light, or the absence of light. The instant process is particularly preferred for separating multivalent metal ions from aqueous solutions.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin B. Dines
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:17
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B60/00; C22B60/02; C22B60/0204; C22B60/0217; C22B60/0252; C22B60/0265; B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/38; B01D61/40; B01J; B01J13/00; B01J13/02; B01J13/025; C22B3/00; C22B3/20; C22B3/22; C22B3/24; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A process for removing a species from a fluid which comprises: (a) contacting said fluid with a hollow microcapsule, said microcapsule having a wall surrounding an internal void, said wall being substantially insoluble in said fluid and said species being permeable to said wall; (b) permeating said species through said wall into said void; (c) converting said permeated species, in said void, into a species which is impermeable to said wall; (d) separating said microcapsule from said fluid; (e) converting the impermeable species of step (c) into a species which is permeable to said wall; and (f) permeating the permeable species of step (e) through said wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A process for removing a species from a fluid which comprises: (a) contacting said fluid with a hollow microcapsule, said microcapsule having a wall surrounding an internal void, said wall being substantially insoluble in said fluid and said species being permeable to said wall; (b) permeating said species through said wall into said void; (c) converting said permeated species, in said void, into a species which is impermeable to said wall; (d) separating said microcapsule from said fluid; (e) converting the impermeable species of step (c) into a species which is permeable to said wall; and (f) permeating the permeable species of step (e) through said wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said void contains a reagent which is capable of converting said permeated species into an impermeable species.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said reagent and said permeated species form a reversible oxidation-reduction couple.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said permeated species is converted into an impermeable species by means of an oxidation-reduction reaction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 4 wherein said impermeable species is converted into a permeable species by reversing such oxidation-reduction reaction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said oxidation-reduction reaction is reversed by heating said oxidation-reduction couple.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said oxidation-reduction reaction is reversed by irradiating said oxidation-reduction couple with light.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said separated microcapsule of step (d) is contacted with a solvent for said permeable species during the conversion step (e).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said wall comprises a polymeric material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said fluid is an aqueous solution and said species is dissolved therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
A process for removing a multivalent species from a solution which comprises: (a) contacting said solution with a microcapsule having a wall which is permeable to said species when said species is in a first valence state and impermeable to said species when said species is in a second valence state, said wall surrounding a reagent which is capable of reversibly converting said species from said first valence state to said second valence state; (b) permeating said species, in said first valence state, through said wall; (c) converting said permeated species by means of such reagent into said second valence state; (d) separating said microcapsule from said solution; (e) converting said species from said second valence state to said first valence state; and (f) permeating said species of step (e) through said wall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
133 words
A process for removing a multivalent species from a solution which comprises: (a) contacting said solution with a microcapsule having a wall which is permeable to said species when said species is in a first valence state and impermeable to said species when said species is in a second valence state, said wall surrounding a reagent which is capable of reversibly converting said species from said first valence state to said second valence state; (b) permeating said species, in said first valence state, through said wall; (c) converting said permeated species by means of such reagent into said second valence state; (d) separating said microcapsule from said solution; (e) converting said species from said second valence state to said first valence state; and (f) permeating said species of step (e) through said wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said multivalent species is a metal ion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said wall comprises a polymeric material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 13 wherein said conversion of step (c) is carried out in the absence of light and said conversion of step (e) is effected by means of light.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the conversion of step (c) is carried out in the presence of light and said conversion of step (e) is effected by the absence of light.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the conversion of step (e) is effected by cooling the impermeable species to a temperature below the temperature at which the conversion of step (c) occurs.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 13 wherein said metal ion is uranium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the said first valence state is +4 and the second valence state is +6 .
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 18 wherein said reagent is selected from the group consisting of Fe +3 , I 2 , and quinone.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 17 wherein said first valence state is +6 and the second valence state is +4 .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 17 wherein said reagent is selected from the group consisting of Fe +2 , I - , and hydroquinone.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the conversion of step (e) is effected by heating the impermeable species to a temperature above the temperature at which the conversion of step (c) occurs.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
162 words
A process for removing metal ions having multiple valence states from a solution containing said metal ions in a first valence state which comprises: (a) contacting said solution with a microcapsule having a wall comprising a polymeric material which is permeable to said metal ions when said metal ions are in the first valence state and impermeable to said metal ions when said metal ions are in a second valence state, and said wall surrounding a reagent which is capable of reversibly converting said metal ions from said first valence state to said second valence state; (b) permeating said metal ions in said first valence state through said wall; (c) converting said permeated metal ions by means of said surrounded reagent into said second valence state; (d) separating said microcapsule from said solution; (e) converting said metal ions from said second valence state to said first valence state; and (f) permeating said metal ions in said first valence state through said wall.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
162 words
A process for removing metal ions having multiple valence states from a solution containing said metal ions in a first valence state which comprises: (a) contacting said solution with a microcapsule having a wall comprising a polymeric material which is permeable to said metal ions when said metal ions are in the first valence state and impermeable to said metal ions when said metal ions are in a second valence state, and said wall surrounding a reagent which is capable of reversibly converting said metal ions from said first valence state to said second valence state; (b) permeating said metal ions in said first valence state through said wall; (c) converting said permeated metal ions by means of said surrounded reagent into said second valence state; (d) separating said microcapsule from said solution; (e) converting said metal ions from said second valence state to said first valence state; and (f) permeating said metal ions in said first valence state through said wall.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said conversion of step (c) is carried out in the absence of light and said conversion of step (e) is effected by means of light.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 23 wherein the conversion of step (c) is carried out in the presence of light and said conversion of step (e) is effected by the absence of light.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 23 wherein the conversion of step (e) is effected by heating the impermeable metal ions to a temperature above the temperature at which the conversion of step (c) occurs.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 23 wherein the conversion of step (e) is effected by cooling the impermeable metal ions to a temperature below the temperature at which the conversion of step (c) occurs.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
157 words
A process for removing ionic uranium in the +4 valence state from an aqueous solution which comprises: (a) contacting said aqueous solution with a microcapsule having a polymeric wall surrounding an aqueous solution containing a reagent selected from the group consisting of Fe +3 , I 2 and quinone, said wall being substantially insoluble in said fluid and said ionic uranium in the +4 valence state being permeable to said wall; (b) permeating ionic uranium in the +4 valence state through said wall into said aqueous solution; (c) converting said ionic uranium in the +4 valence state in said aqueous solution to ionic uranium in the +6 valence state and which is impermeable to said wall; (d) separating said microcapsules from said aqueous solution; (e) converting the ionic uranium in the +6 valence state into permeable ionic uranium in the +4 valence state; and (f) permeating the ionic uranium in the +4 valence state through said wall.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
157 words
A process for removing ionic uranium in the +4 valence state from an aqueous solution which comprises: (a) contacting said aqueous solution with a microcapsule having a polymeric wall surrounding an aqueous solution containing a reagent selected from the group consisting of Fe +3 , I 2 and quinone, said wall being substantially insoluble in said fluid and said ionic uranium in the +4 valence state being permeable to said wall; (b) permeating ionic uranium in the +4 valence state through said wall into said aqueous solution; (c) converting said ionic uranium in the +4 valence state in said aqueous solution to ionic uranium in the +6 valence state and which is impermeable to said wall; (d) separating said microcapsules from said aqueous solution; (e) converting the ionic uranium in the +6 valence state into permeable ionic uranium in the +4 valence state; and (f) permeating the ionic uranium in the +4 valence state through said wall.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
157 words
A process for removing ionic uranium in the +6 valence state from an aqueous solution which comprises: (a) contacting said aqueous solution with a microcapsule having a polymeric wall surrounding an aqueous solution containing a reagent selected from the group consisting of Fe +2 , I - and hydroquinone, said wall being substantially insoluble in said fluid and said ionic uranium in the +6 valence state being permeable to said wall; (b) permeating ionic uranium in the +6 valence state through said wall into said aqueous solution; (c) converting said ionic uranium in the +6 valence state in said aqueous solution to ionic uranium in the +4 valence state and which is impermeable to said wall; (d) separating said microcapsules from said aqueous solution; (e) converting the ionic uranium in the +4 valence state into permeable ionic uranium in the +6 valence state; and (f) permeating the ionic uranium in the +6 valence state through said wall.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
157 words
A process for removing ionic uranium in the +6 valence state from an aqueous solution which comprises: (a) contacting said aqueous solution with a microcapsule having a polymeric wall surrounding an aqueous solution containing a reagent selected from the group consisting of Fe +2 , I - and hydroquinone, said wall being substantially insoluble in said fluid and said ionic uranium in the +6 valence state being permeable to said wall; (b) permeating ionic uranium in the +6 valence state through said wall into said aqueous solution; (c) converting said ionic uranium in the +6 valence state in said aqueous solution to ionic uranium in the +4 valence state and which is impermeable to said wall; (d) separating said microcapsules from said aqueous solution; (e) converting the ionic uranium in the +4 valence state into permeable ionic uranium in the +6 valence state; and (f) permeating the ionic uranium in the +6 valence state through said wall.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-04-12 | 1985-10-12 | 1986-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-04-12 | 1989-10-12 | 1990-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-04-12 | 1993-10-12 | 1994-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |