Claims
- 1. A method for separating ions from an aqueous stream containing such ions comprising:
(a) contacting a phosphazene polymer with the aqueous stream such that the ions are substantially prevented from permeating the phosphazene polymer, thereby producing an ion-depleted permeate stream and an ion-enhanced rejectate; and (b) separately collecting the permeate stream and the rejectate.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said phosphazene polymer is a member selected from the group consisting of linear polyphosphazenes, cyclo-linear polyphosphazenes, cyclo-matrix polyphosphazenes, and mixtures thereof.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said phosphazene polymer is a linear polyphosphazene.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said phosphazene polymer comprises side-groups comprising organic functionality.
- 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said phosphazene polymer comprises a phenoxy substituent bonded to phosphorus.
- 6. The method of claim 4 wherein said phosphazene polymer comprises an octanoxy substituent bonded to phosphorus.
- 7. The method of claim 1 wherein said phosphazene polymer comprises a membrane.
- 8. A method for removing and concentrating ions from an aqueous ion-containing solution having a first volume comprising:
(a) contacting a phosphazene polymer with the ion-containing solution such that the ions are retained in an ion-enhanced rejectate and an ion-depleted permeate passes through the phosphazene polymer, wherein the ion-enhanced rejectate has a second volume, which is smaller than the first volume; and (b) collecting the ion-enhanced rejectate.
- 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the phosphazene polymer is a member selected from the group consisting of a linear polyphosphazene, cyclo-linear polyphosphazene, cyclo-matrix polyphosphazene, and mixtures thereof.
- 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the phosphazene polymer is a linear polyphosphazene.
- 11. The method of claim 8 wherein said phosphazene polymer comprises side-groups comprising organic functionality.
- 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said phosphazene polymer comprises a phenoxy substituent bonded to phosphorus.
- 13. The method of claim 11 wherein said phosphazene polymer comprises an octanoxy substituent bonded to phosphorus.
- 14. The method of claim 8 wherein said phosphazene polymer comprises a membrane.
- 15. A method for dewatering an aqueous ion-containing solution stream comprising:
(a) contacting a phosphazene polymer with the aqueous stream such that the ions are substantially prevented from permeating the phosphazene polymer, thereby producing an ion-depleted permeate stream and an ion-enriched rejectate; and (b) collecting the rejectate.
- 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the phosphazene polymer is a member selected from the group consisting of a linear polyphosphazene, cyclo-linear polyphosphazene, cyclo-matrix polyphosphazene, and mixtures thereof.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the phosphazene polymer is a linear polyphosphazene.
- 18. The method of claim 15 wherein said phosphazene polymer comprises side-groups comprising organic functionality.
- 19. The method of claim 15 wherein said phosphazene polymer comprises a phenoxy substituent bonded to phosphorus.
- 20. The method of claim 15 wherein said phosphazene polymer comprises an octanoxy substituent bonded to phosphorus.
- 21. The method of claim 15 wherein said phosphazene polymer comprises a membrane.
CONTRACTUAL ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention was made with United States Government support under Contract No. DE-AC07-94ID13223, now Contract No. DE-AC07-99ID13727 awarded by the United States Department of Energy. The United States Government has certain rights in