Redox polymer films for metal recovery applications
US5368632A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 6, 1993 |
| Grant date | Nov 29, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 6, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S423/14
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The treatment of solutions of metal ions with redox polymers under conditions to reduce the ions to a lower valence. The resulting solutions of the lower valence ions are separated from the polymers, and the polymers are regenerated for further use in such treatment. The method of the invention is employed to convert high valence, toxic metal ions to lower valence ions of reduced toxicity. Preferably, the electronically conductive polymer is mounted on a suitable support, and a solution of the toxic metal ion is brought into contact with the polymer. A variety of redox polymers, in particular, electronically conductive polymers, may be used in the practice of the invention, and individual such polymers may be structurally altered to suit particular metal ions. Polymers especially contemplated for use in the invention are polypyrroles, polyanilines and polythiophenes. All of these polymers are characterized as redox polymers with a positive charge on their backbones. In general, suitable polymers are redox polymers bearing a positive charge on their backbones with an E.sub.o of the (surface) redox couple sufficiently negative to react with a metal ion of interest. Thus, for example,…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.