Robert Kunin

The Use of Macroreticular Polymeric Adsorbents for the Treatment of Waste Effluents

One of the most significant advances in ion exchange resin and adsorbent technology has been the development of the macroreticular pore structure. V arious synthetic routes have been developed for preparing both ion exchangeresins and polymeric adsorbents of high surface area and pore volume. Further, the synthesis has been developed to a degree suchthat the surface area and pore parameters can be varied over a wide range. Several of these macroreticular polymers based upon the crosslinked styrene and acrylate systems are now available commercially. These polymeric adsorbents are hard, durable, insoluble spheres of high surface area and porosity. They are available in a variety of polarities. The nonpolar adsorbents are particularly effective for adsorbing nonpolar solutes from polar solvents. Conversely, the polar adsorbents are very effective for adsorbing polar solutes from polar solvents. The polymeric adsorbents are being studied for a host of applications ranging from the recovery of pharmaceuticals to the treatment of waste eftluents. Of particular interest is the use of these polymeric adsorbents for the treatment of wastes from the petrochemical, chemical, dye, and paper manufacturing industries. In some of these examples it has been demonstrated that one can recover significant quantities of re-usable chemieals that more than pay for the waste treatment application. The use of the polymeric adsorbents for the treatment of phenolic wastes is an example of such an application. Other related applications include the removal of chlorinated pesticides, TNT residues, and other noxious compounds from waste eftluents and water supplies.

Further studies on the weak electrolyte ion exchange resin desalination process (Desal Process)

Abstract Studies on the weak electrolyte ion exchange resin desalination process, DESAL Process, were continued in conjunction with field trials. The studies were conducted on brackish waters, acid mine drainage waters emanating from coal mines, and sewage effluents. The DESAL Process involves the following steps: 1. Carbonation — conversion of weak base anion exchange resin to bicarbonate salt. 2. Alkalization — anion exchange conversion of salinity to alkalinity. 3. Dealkalization — cation exchange removal of cations and expulsion of liberated CO 2 . Variations in the desalination process have been developed that permit one to take advantage of varying water compositions and specific water quality requirements. These innovations include a combination of the first stage of the DESAL Process (alkalization) with cold-lime softening. The results indicate that one may desalinate economically brackish waters, sewage effluents, and acid mine drainage waters with a weak electrolyte ion exchange resin desalination process using, at high efficiencies, such cheap regenerants as NH 3 , NaOH, Na 2 CO 3 , or CaO for the anion exchange resin and H 2 SO 4 , SO 2 , or CO 2 for the cation exchange resin. A plant installation has been operating in the U.S. successfully for the past nine months at rated capacity and without difficulty.

THE USE OF MACRORETICULAR POLYMERIC ADSORBENTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF WASTE EFFLUENTS

Abstract One of the most significant advances in ion exchange resin and adsorbent technology has been the development of the macroreticular pore structure. Various synthetic routes have been developed for preparing both ion exchange resins and polymeric adsorbents of high surface area and pore volume. Further, the synthesis has been developed to a degree such that the surface area and pore parameters can be varied over a wide range. Several of these macroreticular polymers based upon the crosslinked styrene and acrylate systems are now available commercially. These polymeric adsorbents are hard, durable, insoluble spheres of high surface area and porosity. They are available in a variety of polarities. The nonpolar adsorbents are particularly effective for adsorbing nonpolar solutes from polar solvents. Conversely, the polar adsorbents are very effective for adsorbing polar solutes from polar solvents. The polymeric adsorbents are being studied for a host of applications ranging from the recovery of pharmaceuticals to the treatment of waste effluents. Of particular interest is the use of these polymeric adsorbents for the treatment of wastes from the petrochemical, chemical, dye, and paper manufacturing industries. In some of these examples it has been demonstrated that one can recover significant quantities of re-usable chemicals that more than pay for the waste treatment application. The use of the polymeric adsorbents for the treatment of phenolic wastes is an example of such an application. Other related applications include the removal of chlorinated pesticides, TNT residues, and other noxious compounds from waste effluents and water supplies.