Hybrid anion exchanger impregnated with hydrated zirconium oxide for selective removal of contaminating ligand and methods of manufacture and use thereof

Abstract

Polymeric anion exchanger are used as host materials in which sub-micron sized hydrated Zr(IV) oxides (HZrO) particles are irreversibly dispersed within the ion exchange medium, such as beads or fibers. The HZrO can be impregnated into the pore structure of resin by mixing the parent anion exchange resin with zirconium solution prepared by pre-calcined zirconium oxide dissolved in concentrated mixture of alcohol and acid, and then followed by precipitation of HZrO particles within the resin by using alkaline solution. Since the anion exchangers have positively charged such as quaternary ammonium functional groups, anionic ligands such as arsenate, fluoride can transport in and out of the gel phase without subjected to the Donnan exclusion effect. Consequently, anion exchanger-supported HZrO submicron particles exhibit significantly greater capacity to remove arsenic and fluoride in comparison with parent anon exchange resins. Known cation exchange resins as support materials do not offer high arsenic or fluoride removal capacity.