Agent for bio-sorption of heavy metals - comprising water insol. alginate gel with high content of dry matter for reducing heavy metals content of water to below limits for drinking water

摘要

An agent for the biosorption of heavy metals comprises a water-insol. alginate gel which under the conditions of use has at least 300g of alginate dry matter/l of gel vol.. The agent pref. has a higher content of COOH gps. than native alginate, is free from or low in Ca, has 400-600g of alginate dry matter/l of gel vol., and is as spheres of dia. 0.2-3 mm. An alginate gel is pref. dried to below 20% (below 10%) moisture content, and may be coupled with cpds. carrying COOH gps., esp. aspartic or glutamic acid, and is opt. crosslinked with Bi- or multifunctional reactants. The sorbent is used in a plug-flow reactor contg. the agent in a packing density of at least 300g of dry matter/l, or may be used in cartridges in a suitable reactor. ADVANTAGE - In a bed reactor, the biosorption is at least 40g of heavy metal/l of reactor vol. (above 25g of Cu or above 100g of Pb/l of reactor vol. for a sorbent contg. 400-600g of alginate dry matter/l of gel vol.). The content of heavy metals in water can be reduced to below the acceptable limits for drinking water.