Ligands for removal of liquid phase cations and methods for same

• Main Authors: Yengoyan, Leon, Frattini, Paul L
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.09.2020
• Subjects: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVINGCARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS; METALLURGY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE

The invention provides chemical compounds for binding to a liquid phase cation having the formula R1-SO2-S-R2-SH, wherein R1 comprises a support molecule, such as a polymer, and R2 comprises an alkyl. The polymer may be a crosslinked, polystyrene divinylbenzene copolymer having a plurality of pendant benzyl groups to which the -SO2-S-R2-SH ligand is attached. The alkyl group may be ethyl or propyl. The chemical compound may be used to complex cation lead or mercury, in which the cation is complexed with mercapto-sulfur of the thio-sulfonyl moiety and the terminal mercaptan to form a heterocyclic ring-like geometry incorporating the cation. A method for removing cations from a liquid stream using the chemical compounds of the present invention is also provided.