Patent ID: 7338603

Claim:
A process for removing oxyanions of an element having an atomic number selected from the group consisting of 5, 13, 14, 22 to 25, 31, 32, 40 to 42, 44, 45, 49 to 52, 72 to 75, 77, 78, 82, 83 and 92 from an aqueous feed containing one or more of said oxyanions, which process comprises contacting said aqueous feed with a sorbent comprising one or more rare earth compounds to remove one or more of said oxyanions from said feed and thereby produce an aqueous fluid having a reduced concentration of said oxyanions as compared to said feed, wherein said rare earth compound or compounds are not supported on particulate solids having a cation exchange capacity for said rare earth compound or compounds greater than 20 milliequivalents per 100 grams.