Compositions for removing metal ions from aqueous process solutions and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a composition and process using the composition for removing metal ions from aqueous process solutions. These compositions include a non-metallic compound entrapped within or supported onto a substrate. In one embodiment, the non-metallic compound is a thiuram. In another embodiment, the compositions further include non-metallic compound that is a dithiocarbamate. These compositions are contacted with the metal ions in the aqueous process solution to form an organometallic complex precipitate.

1 . A composition for removing metal ions from an aqueous process solution, the composition comprising a monomeric non-metallic compound, which comprises a thiuram, entrapped within or supported onto a support material, wherein the non-metallic compound is capable of forming a complex with a metal ion in an aqueous process solution.  
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the thiuram is characterized by the general chemical formula (I),  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein, m is an integer of 1 or 2; and  
         R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  are individually selected from the group consisting of C1-C10 linear alkyls, C3-C10 branched alkyls, C3-C10 cyclo-alkyls, and substituted and unsubstituted aryls.  
       
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the thiuram is selected from the group consisting of tetramethylthiuram monosulfide, bis(dimethyldithiocarbamoyl)disulfide, tetrabenzylthiuram disulfide, tetraethylthiuram disulfide, tetrabutylthiuram disulfide, dipentamethylenethiuram tetrasulfide, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic compound further comprises a dithiocarbamate entrapped within or supported onto the support material.  
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the dithiocarbamate is characterized by the general chemical formula (II),  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein, n is an integer of 1 or 2; o is an integer of 1 or 2; R 5  and R 6  are individually selected from the group consisting of C1-C10 linear alkyls, C3-C10 branched alkyls, C3-C10 cyclo-alkyls, and substituted and unsubstituted aryls; and Y is an element selected from Groups IA and IIA of the periodic table.  
       
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 5 , wherein the dithiocarbamate is selected from the group consisting of sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, sodium dibenzyldithiocarbamate, sodium dibutyldithiocarbamate, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The composition according to any of claims  4 , wherein the support material is selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic polymers, organic compounds, inorganic compounds, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . An organometallic composition, comprising: an organometallic complex entrapped within or supported onto a support material, wherein the organometallic complex comprises a monomeric non-metallic compound, which comprises a thiuram, associated with a metallic ion in an aqueous process solution.  
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the thiuram is characterized by the general chemical formula (I),  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein, m is an integer of 1 or 2; and R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  are individually selected from the group consisting of C1-C10 linear alkyls, C3-C10 branched alkyls, C3-C10 cyclo-alkyls, and substituted and unsubstituted aryls.  
       
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 9 , wherein the thiuram is selected from the group consisting of tetramethylthiuram monosulfide, bis(dimethyldithiocarbamoyl)disulfide, tetrabenzylthiuram disulfide, tetraethylthiuram disulfide, tetrabutylthiuram disulfide, dipentamethylenethiuram tetrasulfide, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the non-metallic compound further comprises a dithiocarbamate.  
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the dithiocarbamate is characterized by the general chemical formula (II),  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein, n is an integer of 1 or 2; o is an integer of 1 or 2; R 5  and R 6  are individually selected from the group consisting of C1-C10 linear alkyls, C3-C10 branched alkyls, C3-C10 cyclo-alkyls, and substituted and unsubstituted aryls; and Y is an element selected from Groups IA and IIA of the periodic table.  
       
     
     
         13 . The composition according to  claim 12 , wherein the dithiocarbamate is selected from the group consisting of sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, sodium dibenzyldithiocarbamate, sodium dibutyldithiocarbamate, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The composition according to any of claims  8  or  9 , wherein the support material is selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic polymers, organic compounds, inorganic compounds, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The composition according to any of claims  8  or  9 , wherein the metal ion is selected from the group consisting of arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, cesium, copper, iron, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, technetium, thallium, zinc, actinides, lanthanides, mixtures thereof, and alloys thereof.