Method of removing and recovering contaminants from solutions with modified anion exchange materials having metal inside the materials

Abstract

The present invention relates, generally, to the art of impregnating metal complexes into anion exchange materials to provide improved anion exchange materials with a metal inside the materials such that the modified materials effectively and efficiently remove or recover various metals, including metal containing complexes, compounds, and contaminants, such as arsenic, from, for example, process solutions, effluents and aqueous solutions. Uses for the improved anion exchange materials are also described as are methods of making modified anion exchange materials, and methods of removing and recovering at least one metal or contaminant from a source.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . A method for removing or recovering at least one metal or contaminant from a source comprising the steps of:
 (a) loading an anionic substance comprising a metal containing complex onto an anion exchange material;   (b) immobilizing at least a portion of the metal of the metal containing complex inside the anion exchange material to form a modified anion exchange material; and   (c) contacting the source with at least a portion of the modified anion exchange material.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one metal or contaminant is selected from the group consisting of arsenic, selenium, vanadium, uranium, fluoride, phosphate, silicate, fluoborate, cyanide, antimony and cyanate. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of repeating steps (a) and (b), sequentially, a plurality of times. 
   
   
       21 - 27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of combining the metal containing substance with a salt, acid or base material to form the anionic substance comprising a metal containing complex. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the source has a pH in a range that maintains the anionic substance comprising a metal containing complex stable. 
   
   
       30 . A method of  claim 18 , wherein the pH range of the source is between 4.0 and 11.0. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one metal or contaminant is a transition metal.