Coupling agent-reacted mercury removal media

Abstract

The use of a coupling agent containing a mercapto, disulfide, tretrasulfide and/or polysulfide end group provides a mercury removal media having increased reactivity, stability, and mercury removal ability. The mercury removal media described herein is prepared by reacting an organophilic clay containing onium ions with a mercapto, disulfide, tetrasulfide, and/or polysulfide end moiety. Alternatively, the clay can be made organophilic by onium ion reaction prior to or simultaneously with the coupling reaction of the mercapto- or sulfide-end group-containing coupling agent.

1 . A contaminant removal media for removing mercury and/or arsenic from water or removing mercury from a gas by contact, comprising:
 an intimate mixture of a coupling agent-reacted layered phyllosilicate, wherein the coupling agent includes a mercapto or sulfide moiety.   
     
     
         2 . The contaminant removal media of  claim 1 , wherein the percentage of components is as follows:
 a) layered phyllosilicate: 50 to 99.5 wt. %; and   b) coupling agent: 0.5 to 50 wt. %.   
     
     
         3 . The contaminant removal media of  claim 1  further including a phyllosilicate intercalant agent, and wherein the percentage of components is as follows:
 c) layered phyllosilicate: 1-90 wt. %; intercalant agent: 10-50 wt. %; and   d) coupling agent: 0.5-50 wt. %.   
     
     
         4 . The contaminant removal media of  claim 3  wherein the percentage of components is as follows:
 e) layered phyllosilicate: 35-83 wt. %; intercalant agent: 15-45 wt. %; and   f) coupling agent: 2-20 wt. %.   
     
     
         5 . The contaminant removal media of  claim 4  wherein the percentage of components is as follows:
 g) layered phyllosilicate: 50-77 wt. %; intercalant agent: 20-40 wt. %; and   h) coupling agent: 2-12 wt. %.   
     
     
         6 . The contaminant removal media of  claim 5  further including an intercalant agent, and wherein the percentage of components is as follows:
 i) layered phyllosilicate: 59-71 wt. %; intercalant agent: 25-35 wt. %; and   j) coupling agent: 5-9 wt. %.   
     
     
         7 . The contaminant removal media of  claim 6  wherein the percentage of components is as follows:
 k) layered phyllosilicate: 65 wt. %; intercalant agent: 28 wt. %; and   l) coupling agent: 7 wt. %.   
     
     
         8 . The contaminant removal media of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture is compacted in an extruder. 
     
     
         9 . A method of removing mercury and/or arsenic from water or for removing mercury from a gas comprising contacting the water or gas with the contaminant removal media of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A method of removing mercury and/or arsenic from water or for removing mercury from a gas comprising contacting the water or gas with the contaminant removal media of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         11 . The mercury removal media of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling agent-reacted layered phyllosilicate has a particle size finer than 18 mesh, U.S. Sieve Series. 
     
     
         12 . A contaminant removal media for removing mercury and/or arsenic from water or removing mercury from a gas, by contact, comprising:
 a mixture of a layered phyllosilicate intercalated with an intercalant surface modification agent; and a coupling agent containing a mercapto or sulfide moiety intimately mixed for reaction of the coupling agent with the layered phyllosilicate.   
     
     
         13 . A method of regenerating contaminated water containing organic and mercury or arsenic contaminants comprising:
 contacting the contaminated water with an organoclay for removal of organic contaminants; and   contacting the contaminated water with the contaminant removal media of  claim 1  for removal of mercury or arsenic contaminants.   
     
     
         14 . A method of regenerating contaminated water containing organic and mercury or arsenic contaminants comprising:
 contacting the contaminated water with an organoclay for removal of the organic contaminant; and   contacting the contaminated water with the contaminant removal media of  claim 3  for removal of mercury or arsenic contaminants.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the organoclay and contaminant removal media are contained in separate vessels connected in series. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the organoclay and contaminant removal media are contained in the same vessel. 
     
     
         17 . A method of regenerating a contaminated gas containing organic and mercury or arsenic contaminants comprising:
 contacting the contaminated gas with an organoclay for removal of organic contaminants; and   contacting the contaminated water with the contaminant removal media of  claim 14  for removal of mercury contaminants.   
     
     
         18 . A method of regenerating a contaminated gas containing organic and mercury or arsenic contaminants comprising:
 contacting the contaminated gas with an organoclay for removal of the organic contaminant; and   contacting the contaminated water with the contaminant removal media of  claim 3  for removal of mercury contaminants.   
     
     
         19 . The contaminant removal media of  claim 1 , wherein the media comprises particles having a particle size such that at least 80% by weight of the particles are finer than 5 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The contaminant removal media of  claim 19 , wherein the media comprises particles having a particle size such that at least 80% by weight of the particles are finer than 3 mm. 
     
     
         21 . The contaminant removal media of  claim 20 , wherein the media comprises particles having a particle size such that at least 80% by weight of the particles are finer than 2 mm.