Recyclable High Capacity Selective Sorbant for Heavy Metals, Radionuclides, and Actinides
- Summary
- OSU researchers have created a sorbent material capable ofselectively absorbing actinides such as thorium and uranium, heavy metals suchas cadmium, lead, and mercury, and radionuclides such as radio strontium fromwater. This material removes heavymetals from water and replaces them with calcium providing an additionalnutritional benefit. The sorbent, whichis also recyclable, provides a solution to several existing challenges in thepurification and recycling of heavy metals, radionuclides and actinides.
- Technology Benefits
- RecyclableHigh absorption capacityIncreases nutritional benefitsSelectively removes contaminants
- Technology Application
- Purification of calcium and magnesium salts for food, medical, and mineral supplementsPurification of drinking water containing heavy metals oruraniumBarrier materials for preventing the spread of contaminatedwaterTreatment of acid mine drainage“Mining” of ground water or seawater for metalsActinide separations in ore refining or fuel rodreprocessing
- Detailed Technology Description
- None
- *Abstract
-
A sorbent with high selectivity is produced as an insoluble salt that is capable of selectively absorbing actinides such as thorium and uranium, heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, and mercury, and radionuclides such as radio strontium from water. The loaded sorbent can be easily separated from the sorbed metals by treatment with base.
- *Background
- Recently it has been discovered that many fruit juices arecontaminated with high levels of lead and, to a lesser extent, cadmium. Heavy metals occur naturally in the soil ofcertain areas around the world and fruit grown in these areas often becomescontaminated. Fruit juices manufacturedfrom these fruits contain unhealthy levels of heavy metals such as lead andcadmium. Although it is possible toremove the heavy metals from fruit juices, the procedures that are used (e.g. precipitation or ion-exchange resins) createjuices that are unsavory, much less nutritious, and according to workers in thejuice industry, no longer resembling juice. The industry is in need of a process that can remove heavy metals andother contaminants from fruit juices while retaining quality flavor andnutritional value.
- *Stage of Development
- A prototype is available.
- Country/Region
- USA
For more information, please click Here
