Selective adsorbents are mesoporous materials posses ordered nanometer-sized pores offering enormous surface area (750-1000 m²/g). The surface structures of these selective adsorbents are specific esigned to perform selective adsorption and recovery of metal ions. Unlike activated carbons, these smart adsorbents can be easily regenerated to reduce the solid waste and to make it more economically competitive.
Theory
The surface structure of these selective adsorbents can be designed to adsorb noble and expensive metal ions such as gold.
Fig.1 A mixture solution of gold and copper
Fig.2 Addition of Type N selective adsorbent powders.
Fig.3 Copper ions remain in the liquid phase and gold ions are collected by adsorbents and separated.
Fig.4 Separation of gold ions and regeneration of adsorbent powders.
Advantages
Scan electron micrograph of selective adsorbents
Fast adsorption
High selectivity
99% recovery of valuable metal solution
99.9% selectivity of regenerated adsorbent
Several times regeneration of adsorbent
Environmental-friendly
Applications
Adsorption of dyes e.g. acid blue, methylene blue...etc.
Adsorption of volatile organic compounds (e.g. acetone) or cooking oil
Adsorption of toxic heavy metals e.g. chromium, lead, mercury...etc.
Selective adsorption and recovery of valuable metal ions (99%) e.g. Au (1 g of SAN adsorbent can adsorb 0.28 g gold) and Ag (1 g of SAS adsorbent can adsorb 0.1 g silver)
