Development of Sol-Gel Synthesis Methods for Organo-Ceramic Adsorbents for Separations of Cobalt, Chromium and Arsenic Ions

本研究的目标是在开发新型有机陶瓷杂化材料的基础上，开发高效的金属离子分离系统，该材料可作为吸附剂，用于从水溶液中提取有毒和有价值的金属离子。这些有机-无机杂化材料是在分子水平上设计的，以利用两种成分的理想特性，例如用于金属提取的功能性有机分子的高反应性，陶瓷结构的高物理化学强度以及金属在孔隙中的快速运输。这些杂化吸附剂的开发是一项多学科的工作，其中有机合成化学、纳米尺度材料科学以及化学和环境应用工程/技术密切相关。在这个项目中，超过10种功能性有机化合物将被开发和测试它们对目标金属离子、铬和砷的亲和力。预筛选后，将选择两到三种功能有机化合物与每种金属离子进行进一步评价，以开发最理想的吸附材料。这些材料将用于证明它们在各种工业和环境流体流中分离目标金属的适用性。拟议项目的成功发展将导致对溶胶-凝胶处理技术的理解和进步，并确定用于分离有毒和工业重要金属的有机陶瓷混合吸附剂的生产和表征方法。例如，在许多地区，一种用于砷分离的混合吸附剂可用于从砷污染的地下水中生产安全饮用水。同样有效的铬分离吸附剂可用于从电镀工业污染的流出流中回收这种金属。此外，该技术可以扩展到其他工业应用，以生产聚合物、阻燃剂和润滑剂的催化剂或新添加剂。该项目还将通过研究出版物传播基础知识，通过专利传播新的工业应用，并将向学生，包括与受污染土地有关的印第安人提供培训和教育。

The goal of the proposed work is to develop efficient metal-ion separation systems based upon the development of a new class of organo-ceramic hybrid materials which can be used as adsorbents for the extraction of toxic and valuable metal ions from aqueous streams. These organic-inorganic hybrid materials are designed at a molecular level to take advantage of desirable properties from both components such as a high reactivity of functional organic molecules for metal extraction and a high physico-chemical strength of the ceramic structure as well as fast metal transport in the pores. The development of these hybrid adsorbents is a multi-disciplinary work in which organic synthesis chemistry, nano-scale materials science, and engineering/technology of chemical and environmental applications are closely interrelated. In this project, over 10 functional organic compounds will be developed and tested for their affinity for the proposed target metal ions, chromium and arsenic. After prescreening, two or three functional organic compounds will be selected for further evaluation with each metal ion to develop the most desirable adsorbent materials. These materials will be used to demonstrate their applicability for separating the target metals in a variety of industrial and environmental fluid streams.Successful developments in the proposed project will lead to the understanding and advancement of the sol-gel processing technology and the identification of methodologies to produce and characterize organo-ceramic hybrid adsorbents for separation of toxic and industrially important metals. For example, a hybrid adsorbent developed for arsenic separation might be employed to produce safe drinking water from arsenic-contaminated ground water in many regions. Similarly efficient adsorbents for chromium separations could be applied to recycle this metal from contaminated effluent streams in the electroplating industry. In addition, the technology might be extended to other industrial applications to produce catalysts or new additives for polymers, flame-retardants, and lubricants. The project will also disseminate basic knowledge through research publications and novel industrial applications through patents, and it will provide training and education to students, including Native Americans concerned with contaminated lands.