Chelating ion-exchangers embedded in PTFE for decontamination of heavy-metal-laden sludges and soils

Selective removal of small amounts of heavy metal precipitates from the bac kground of bulk amounts of innocuous sludge or soil is a challenging separa tion problem. This study identifies and investigates a novel material that has the potential to overcome such a challenge. The material, termed Compos ite Ion-Exchanger Material (CIM), is made of fine particles of chelating po lymers entrapped in thin sheets of porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). T he composite ion-exchange material is not fouled by high concentration of s uspended solids but retains the original properties of the chelating exchan gers. In this communication, various physico-chemical properties of the new ion-exchange material are discussed as regards their use in the decontamin ation of heavy-metal-laden soils and sludges. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.