Selenium Removal

• Main Authors: STEPHEN WILLIAM COLLEY, MATTHEW ALEXANDER LINCOLN, PASI MARKUS KAUPPINEN, JAVIER TORROBA
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 08.04.2015
• Subjects: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; SEPARATION; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE

The present invention relates to removal of selenium from feeds such as waste water streams from refineries and power plants. In one aspect the use of an adsorbent for the adsorption of one or more selenium species is claimed, wherein the adsorbent comprises a support having two different functional groups capable of adsorbing selenium species immobilised thereon. The two different functional groups can comprise an amine moiety, such as a quaternary amine moiety, and a thiol moiety. Alternatively, the two different functional groups may comprise an amine moiety and a heteroaryl moiety comprising a nitrogen atom in the aromatic ring, such as a pyridine moiety. Preferably, the support is a fibre. Alternatively, the support may be a granule or powder. The selenium species can be selenate, selenite and/or selenide. A method of purifying water and a selenium removal apparatus are also claimed.