US4619744A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recovery of heavy metals from aqueous solutions
Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
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Filing: 1985-10-28
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Granted: 1986-10-28
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Expires: 2005-10-28
Abstract
Abstract Process for the recovery of heavy metals from aqueous solution by reaction with soluble, functionally-substituted polymer upon which the heavy metal loads, and optionally crosslinks by interaction with the heavy metals present in solution. Metals including those having atomic numbers of 39-51, 57-84 and 89-117, inclusive, can be recovered by the practice of the present invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Horton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:26
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01G; C01G5/00; C01G5/003; C01G13/00; C01G13/003; C01G55/00; C01G55/001; C01G7/00; C01G7/003; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/52; C02F1/5272; C22; C22B; C22B3/00; C22B3/20; C22B3/26; C22B3/41; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20; Y10; Y10S; Y10S423/00; Y10S423/09; Y10S423/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A process for the recovery of heavy metals selected from the group consisting of elements with atomic numbers 39-51, 57-84, and 89-117 from aqueous solution which comprises (a) contacting said solution with at least one soluble, cross-linkable polyelectrolyte having the structure: ##STR4## L 1 =any member of the group defined by L, with the proviso that for any given polymer L≠L 1 , R=H or C 1 -C 8 alkyl or aryl group; and R'=C 1 -C 4 alkyl group, n=2 up to 10 6 , and m=0 up to n, with the proviso that m is selected so that the resulting polymer is water soluble, under conditions suitable to cause crosslinking and precipitation of said polyelectrolyte, and (b) recovering the precipitate produced in step (a).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A process for the recovery of heavy metals selected from the group consisting of elements with atomic numbers 39-51, 57-84, and 89-117 from aqueous solution which comprises (a) contacting said solution with at least one soluble, cross-linkable polyelectrolyte having the structure: ##STR4## L 1 =any member of the group defined by L, with the proviso that for any given polymer L≠L 1 , R=H or C 1 -C 8 alkyl or aryl group; and R'=C 1 -C 4 alkyl group, n=2 up to 10 6 , and m=0 up to n, with the proviso that m is selected so that the resulting polymer is water soluble, under conditions suitable to cause crosslinking and precipitation of said polyelectrolyte, and (b) recovering the precipitate produced in step (a).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heavy metals are selected from the group consisting of: gold, silver, platinum, palladium, iridium, rhodium, osminum, ruthenium, mercury, and uranium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heavy metals are present in solution as a compound of, or complex with at least one anion selected from the group consisting of: halide, perhalate cyanide, thiosulfate, sulfate, sulfite, hydrogen sulfate, nitrate, phosphate, hydrogen phosphate, arsenate, and chromate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heavy metals in solution are treated, prior to step (a), with at least one polyvalent anion selected from the group consisting of: thiosulfate, sulfate, polysulfide, ferrocyanide, and citrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 further comprising (c) calcining the precipitate recovered from step (b) to recover metal values therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: (c) treating said participate with at least one regenerant under conditions suitable to cause dissociation of the polyelectrolyte-heavy metal precipitate, and (d) recovering metal values from the solution produced by step (c) by electro deposition at a cathode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process in accordance with claim 6 further comprising: (c) recycling the solubilized polyelectrolyte produced in step (c) to step (a) after the completion of step (d).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
A process for the recovery of heavy metals selected from the group consisting of elements with atomic numbers 39-51 57-84, and 89-117 from solution which comprises (a) contacting said solution with at least one soluble, cross-linkable polyelectrolyte under conditions suitable to cause loading of said polyelectrolyte with said heavy metals, (b) precipitating the heavy metal loaded polyelectrolyte produced in step (a), and (c) recovering the precipitate produced in step (b).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
A process for the recovery of heavy metals selected from the group consisting of elements with atomic numbers 39-51 57-84, and 89-117 from solution which comprises (a) contacting said solution with at least one soluble, cross-linkable polyelectrolyte under conditions suitable to cause loading of said polyelectrolyte with said heavy metals, (b) precipitating the heavy metal loaded polyelectrolyte produced in step (a), and (c) recovering the precipitate produced in step (b).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process in accordance with claim 8 wherein step (b) comprises adding sufficient quantities of additional heavy metal or non-heavy metal to cause precipitation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process in accordance with claim 8 wherein step (b) comprises adding sufficient quantities of a solid ion exchange resin to said heavy metal loaded polyelectrolyte to cause precipitation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process in accordance with claim 8 wherein step (b) comprises adding sufficient quantities of a second polyelectrolyte to cause precipitation of said heavy metal loaded polyelectrolyte, wherein said second polyelectrolyte is complimentary to said heavy metal loaded polyelectrolyte.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
8 words
The composition produced in accordance with claim 1.
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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) | 1989-10-27 | 1990-04-28 | 1990-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-27 | 1994-04-28 | 1994-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-27 | 1998-04-28 | 1998-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |