US4747954A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Removal of metals from solutions
Assignee: Dow Chemical Co
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Filing: 1985-09-16
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Granted: 1988-05-31
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Expires: 2005-09-16
Abstract
Abstract Particles, fibers, or filaments of ethylene/carboxylic acid copolymers or terpolymers, especially in highly porous or microporous form, are employed in removing contaminants from solution in aqueous and/or organic liquids, especially metal contaminants. The porous polymers, having a surface area/weight ratio of at least about 0.5 m2/gm, are useful alone, but may also be used in conjunction with, or in tandem with, previously known ion exchange resins such as polyacrylic acid crosslinked with divinylbenzene.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter L. Vaughn
- 👤 Rafael E. Guerra
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:36
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01G; C01G9/00; C01G9/003; C01D; C01D15/00; C01D15/04; C01D3/00; C01D3/14; C01D3/145; C01D3/16; C01F; C01F11/00; C01F11/005; C01F7/00; C01G21/00; C01G21/003; C01G3/00; C01G3/003; C01G37/00; C01G37/003; C01G49/00; C01G49/0009; C01G53/00; C01G53/01; C22; C22B; C22B3/00; C22B3/20; C22B3/42; C01P; C01P2006/00; C01P2006/12; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of removing metal contaminants from solution in an aqueous liquid, an organic liquid, or a liquid which is aqueous and organic, said method comprising contacting the said liquid with an ethylene polymer having pendent carboxylic acid groups or pendent carboxylic acid groups in the salt form, said polymer being in microporous, particulate form, and having a surface area/weight ratio of at least about 0.5 m 2 /gm, for a time sufficient to cause the metal values to affix to the polymer, and separating the liquid from the polymer, wherein the ethylene polymer comprises ethylene interpolymerized with about 10% to about 40% by weight of an olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid of the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, and butenoic acid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of removing metal contaminants from solution in an aqueous liquid, an organic liquid, or a liquid which is aqueous and organic, said method comprising contacting the said liquid with an ethylene polymer having pendent carboxylic acid groups or pendent carboxylic acid groups in the salt form, said polymer being in microporous, particulate form, and having a surface area/weight ratio of at least about 0.5 m 2 /gm, for a time sufficient to cause the metal values to affix to the polymer, and separating the liquid from the polymer, wherein the ethylene polymer comprises ethylene interpolymerized with about 10% to about 40% by weight of an olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid of the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, and butenoic acid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid is aqueous.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid is organic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid is both aqueous and organic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the metal comprises at least one of the metals found in Periodic Table Groups IA, IIA, IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIII, IB, IIB, IIIA, IVA, VA, and VIA.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the metal comprises at least one having a valence of 2 or 3.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the metal comprises at least one of Periodic Table Groups IB, IIB, and VIII.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the organic liquid comprises a halogenated hydrocarbon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the ethylene polymer comprises ethylene copolymerized with acrylic acid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the ethylene polymer comprises ethylene copolymerized with methacrylic acid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the ethylene polymer comprises fibers which are microporous.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the ethylene polymer comprises an array of small particles or fibers composited in the manner of a filter material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the ethylene polymer comprises a woven, non-woven, knitted, or sintered array of fibers or filaments.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer, after separation from the liquid, is regenerated by the use of a reactant to remove the metal from the polymer, and using the so-regenerated polymer for removing metal values from additional quantities of liquid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid, after separation from the polymer, is contacted with an additional quantity of the polymer to further reduce the amount of metal values in the liquid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the surface area/weight ratio is at least 2 m 2 /gm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the surace area/weight ratio is at least 4 m 2 /gm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the surface area/weight ratio is at least 5 m 5 /gm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the salt form of the carboxylic acid is an organic salt.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the salt form of the carboxylic acid is an inorganic salt.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the said particulate ethylene polymer is in the form of a dispersion, colloid, or suspension in a liquid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of the said acid is in the range of about 14% to about 35% by weight.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of the said acid is in the range of about 20% to about 35% by weight.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-05-31 | 1991-11-30 | 1992-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-05-31 | 1995-11-30 | 1996-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-05-31 | 1999-11-30 | 2000-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |