Compositions for the removal of heavy metals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021039993-A1
Application number	US-201916964264-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 23, 2019
Priority date	Jan 23, 2018
Publication date	Feb 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for sequestering heavy metal atoms, including hazardous atoms such as lead and radiocesium, from contaminated areas. The heavy metal atoms may be removed by contacting the contaminated area with a potassium-depleted muscovite-enriched composition. The compositions may also be incorporated into building materials to create structures to safely house nuclear reactors and other devices which may accidentally release heavy metal atoms.

First claim

1 . A method for sequestering heavy metal atoms from a contaminated area, comprising contacting the contaminated area with a muscovite-enriched mineral composition, wherein the muscovite is potassium-depleted.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the potassium-depleted muscovite contains no more than 10% by mass of potassium relative to the total mass of the muscovite.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the muscovite-enriched mineral composition comprises muscovite in an amount at least 60% by mass relative to the total mass of the muscovite-enriched mineral.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the muscovite-enriched mineral has a particle size D 10 that is at least greater than 5 μm.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the muscovite-enriched mineral has a particle size D 90 that is no more than 2,000 μm.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the muscovite-enriched mineral absorbs cesium with a K d ([Cs]solid/[Cs]aqueous) that is greater than 1,000 L/kg.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the heavy metal atoms comprise Cs, Pb, Sr, Rb, Ba, or a mixture thereof.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the heavy metal atoms comprise 137 Cs.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the contaminated area comprises 137 Cs in an amount of at least 500 at least kBq/m 2 .

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the contaminated area comprises a soil, and the muscovite-enriched mineral composition is blended into the soil, overlaid on top of the soil, buried under the soil.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising contacting the contaminated area with a permeable container comprising the muscovite-enriched mineral composition.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the contaminated area comprises a body of water, and the contaminated water is passed through a permeable container containing the muscovite-enriched mineral composition.

13 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the contaminated area comprises a soil, and the permeable container is buried in the soil for a time sufficient to sequester the heavy metal atoms.

14 . (canceled)

15 . A building material comprising a muscovite-enriched mineral composition, wherein the muscovite is potassium-depleted, and contains no more than 10% by mass of potassium relative to the total mass of the muscovite.

16 . (canceled)

17 . The building material according to claim 15 , wherein the muscovite-enriched mineral composition comprises muscovite in an amount at least 60% by mass relative to the total mass of the muscovite-enriched mineral.

18 . The building material according to claim 15 , wherein the muscovite-enriched mineral has a particle size D 10 that is at least greater than 5 μm.

19 . The building material according to claim 15 , wherein the muscovite-enriched mineral has a particle size D 90 that is no more than 2,000 μm.

20 . The building material according to claim 15 , wherein the material is a dry concrete mix.

21 . The building material according to claim 15 , wherein the building material comprises the muscovite-enriched mineral composition in an amount no more than 20% by weight.

22 . The building material according to claim 15 , wherein the building material is a concrete mix further comprising cement, sand, and aggregate.

Assignees

• Univ Georgia State Res Found

Inventors

• Elliott W Crawford
• Wampler J Marion
• Kwong-Moses Dominique S

Classifications

• C04B14/06

  Quartz; Sand · CPC title

• B09C2101/00

  In situ · CPC title

• C04B18/0472

  Waste material contaminated by heavy metals · CPC title

• B09C1/08 Primary

  chemically · CPC title

• Y02W30/91

  Use of waste materials as fillers for mortars or concrete · CPC title