Claims
- 1. A process for insolubilizing toxic metal cations absorbed within a hydrogel chelation polymer comprising treating said polymer in water-swollen form with a precipitative anion selected from the group consisting of carbonate, aluminate, hydroxide, phosphate, silicate and sulfide.
- 2. The process of claim 1 wherein said anion is sulfide.
- 3. The process of claim 1 wherein said polymer is insolubilized polyethyleneimine (PEI).
- 4. The process of claim 3 wherein said PEI is insolubilized by virtue of thermal interaction with a polyfunctional carboxylic acid.
- 5. The process of claim 1 wherein said polymer is disposed within an open-celled cellulosic sponge, producing an open-celled product holding 30% to 80% by weight of said polymer.
- 6. The process of claim 5 wherein said sponge produce is of cuboid configuration having an average volumetric size less than one cubic inch.
- 7. The process of claim 1 further comprising treatment of said hydrogel chelation polymer with a water-dilutable prepolymer composition, and heating to remove water and cause cross-linking of said prepolymer by a condensation mechanism.
- 8. The process of claim 7 wherein said prepolymer composition contains said precipitative anion.
- 9. A hydrogel chelation polymer comprised of insolubilized PEI capable of absorbing between 90% and 300% by weight water and containing a substantially water-insoluble metal sulfide.
- 10. The polymer of claim 9 wherein said metal sulfide is ferric sulfide.
- 11. A rigid open-celled product comprised of an open-celled cellulosic sponge containing 30% to 80% by weight of insolubilized PEI containing an insolubilized metal compound and a cross-linked condensation polymer.
- 12. A composite structure produced by:
- a) compacting a multitude of open-celled sponges containing a hydrogel chelation polymer, a substantially water-insoluble metal compound, a water-dilutable prepolymer, and sufficient water to soften said sponges, and
- b) heating said compacted multitude of sponges to cause cross-linking of said prepolymer by a condensation mechanism.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/808,884, filed Dec. 18, 1991 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,200.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2023387 |
Feb 1991 |
CAX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
808884 |
Dec 1991 |
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