Patent · US Expired

Removal of metal ions from aqueous solution

US4909944A · kind A · utility

19Cited by
4References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 26, 1988
Grant dateMar 20, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 26, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S210/914
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method of removing heavy metals from aqueous solution, a composition of matter used in effecting said removal, and apparatus used in effecting said removal. One or more of the polypeptides, poly (.gamma.-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines, is immobilized on an inert material in particulate form. Upon contact with an aqueous solution containing heavy metals, the polypeptides sequester the metals, removing them from the solution. There is selectivity of poly (.gamma.-glutamylcysteinyl)glycines having a particular number of monomer repeat units for particular metals. The polypeptides are easily regenerated by contact with a small amount of an organic acid, so that they can be used again to remove heavy metals from solution. This also results in the removal of the metals from the column in a concentrated form.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.