Claims
- 1. An improved article for concentration of heavy metal ions from dilute aqueous solution which comprises: non-woven regenerated cellulose in the form of a porous sponge with substantially all open cells, having chemically linked therewith a water soluble crosslinkable polymeric material containing cation exchange sites.
- 2. The article as in claim 1 in which the polymeric material is polyvinyl phosphate.
- 3. The article as in claim 1 in which the polymeric material is polyethylenimine.
- 4. The method of making an article for the concentration and collection of heavy metal ions from dilute aqueous solution which comprises:
- preparing an aqueous solution of a crosslinkable water soluble polymeric material, having cation exchange capacity, and a crosslinking agent;
- thoroughly wetting a porous sponge formed of regenerated cellulose with the polymer solution to provide at least 100 percent by weight pickup of the solution based on the dry weight of the sponge;
- removing from the sponge polymer solution in excess of 100 percent by weight pickup;
- and drying and curing the impregnated sponge at a temperature and for a time sufficient to link the polymeric material to the sponge but less than that at which substantial decomposition of the sponge occurs.
- 5. The method as in claim 4 in which the sponge is wetted by immersion in the polymer solution.
- 6. The method as in claim 4 in which the wetted sponge is dried and cured by heating the same at a temperature of about 100 to 145 degrees C. for about 15 to 90 minutes.
- 7. The method as in claim 4 in which the crosslinkable water soluble material is polyvinyl phosphate and the crosslinking agent is urea.
- 8. The method as in claim 4 in which the crosslinkable water soluble material is polyethylenimine and the crosslinking agent is 2-butenyl-bis[1,4-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonium chloride].
Government Interests
The invention herein described was made in the course of or under a contract with an agency of the U.S. government.
US Referenced Citations (8)