Patent ID: 6544422
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: B01D,B01J,G21F,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for concentrating, removing, and separating selected ions from a source solution comprising:(a) contacting said source solution having a first volume with a composition suitable for selectively removing ions from solutions, said composition comprising a composite membrane having a covalent bond linking a ion-binding ligand to the composite membrane, said composite membrane comprising a porous substrate which is coated with a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer; wherein the ion-binding ligand has an affinity for said selected ions such as to form a complex between said selected ions and said ligand portion of said composition; (b) removing the source solution from contact with said composition to which said selected ions have been complexed; and (c) contacting said composition having said selected ions complexed thereto with a smaller volume of an aqueous receiving solution in which said selected ions are either soluble or which has greater affinity for such selected ions than does the ligand portion of the composition thereby quantitatively stripping such selected ions from the ligand and recovering said selected ions in concentrated form in said receiving solution.