Multi-functionalized basic immobilized amine sorbents for removal of metal contaminants from wastewater

Patent · Tue Dec 26 04:00:00 EST 2023

OSTI ID:2294033

Gray, McMahan L.; Kail, Brian W.; Wilfong, Walter Christopher; Wang, Qiuming; Shi, Fan

This disclosure provides polyamine sorbent compositions for the separation of metals from aqueous solutions. The polyamine sorbent compositions comprise a silica support, an aminosilane bound to the silica support, an epoxysilane bound to the silica support, and a polyamine where the polyamine is chemically tethered onto a solid silica support through via the epoxysilane. The polyamine may be further stabilized within the bulk sorbent through hydrogen bonding interactions with the aminosilane. The sorbent compositions resist leaching by H₂O in an aqueous stream containing heavy oxyanion-based (and other) metals and demonstrate stability over a pH range of 2-14. The sorbent compositions are useful for the separation of metals from aqueous solutions. The cationic heavy metals are captured by the co-existing amine groups (—NH₂, —NH, —N) from the polymeric network while additional metal capture capacity is derived from the introduction of a secondary silane linker.

• Research Organization: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Assignee: United States Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): 11,850,571
• Application Number: 16/933,743
• OSTI ID: 2294033
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English