Selective removal of metal-ligand complexes using synthetic sorbents

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:250930

Kney, A; Sengupta, A ^[1]

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1. Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, PA (United States). Civil and Environmental Engineering Dept.

When dissolved heavy metals are accompanied by ligands (organic and inorganic) in a wastewater stream, conventional removal methods, such as precipitation, become hindered. Heavy metals remain in solution due to complexation with ligands. Non-conventional methods such as selective ion-exchange also do not work because of reduced selectivity when strong ligands are present in a system. As industry forges ahead improving purification processes used in the metal plating and electronics sectors, the removal of metals in the presence of strong ligands becomes more of a problem. Heavy metals that would have normally precipitated out, using past purification methods, are remaining in solution because of complexation with heavy metals. Trace levels are approaching or surpassing, the Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) maximum concentration limits (MCL). The primary objective of this project is to characterize some new and tailored polymeric sorbents for the selective sorption of anionic metal-ligand complexes. The basic concept of the process the authors are developing is to tailor a resin in such a way that it will have a high affinity for an array of predefined target ions (metal (2) ions, ligands and metal-ligand complexes) present in trace concentrations, all at the same time.

• OSTI ID: 250930
• Report Number(s): CONF-9507204--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ADSORBENTS
METAL INDUSTRY
METALS
PERFORMANCE
POLYMERS
REMOVAL
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE WATER