, novel resins functionalized so as to improve exchange kinetics. The invention also concerns a method of preparing the novel resins and a method for their use in separating chemical species from liquids.
Ion-exchange and chelate-exchange resins are widely employed by industry to separate chemical species from liquids which contain them in solution. These resins are commonly prepared by functionalizing a copolymer bead matrix with functional groups that can associate with chemical species, such as ions or molecules, when the resin is in contact with the liquid. Such resins are generally used in water treatment and purification, food preparation, pharmaceutical manufacturing, chemical processing, metal extraction, and so on, as is generally discussed by R. M. Wheaton et al. in, "Ion Exchange", Vol. 11 Kirk-Othmer Ency. Chem. Tech. pp. 871-899 (2nd Ed. 1966).
A disadvantage associated with such resins, and widely recognized within the art, is slow diffusion into the resin beads for the chemical species being separated. To attain the maximum operating capacity for the resin, it is necessary to use essentially all available exchange sites within the resin bead volume. To do so, substantially all of the available diffusion path length, i.e., the radius for a fully functionalized resin bead, must participate in exchange with the chemical species. Full utilization of the diffusion path length in this instance requires a relatively long time to reach exchange equilibrium. In contrast, resins having short diffusion path lengths reach exchange equilibrium more rapidly than resins having longer diffusion path lengths. A shorter diffusion path length therefore allows for more rapid access to available exchange sites and a quicker approach to exchange equilibrium. This shortened diffusion path ultimately leads to an ability to process relatively large amounts of feed streams without unduly sacrificing operating capacity.
Industry has previously made attempts to shorten the diffusion path length by reducing the size of resin beads. However, small beads lead to larger pressure drops across a resin bed and reduced flow rates for feed streams being processed. As such, substantially reducing the size of the resin beads is not practical for a commercial process.
Macroporous resins, such as those disclosed by Meitzner et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,224,415, were developed to improve kinetics by providing a highly porous copolymer bead matrix wherein relatively large pore sizes improve diffusion of chemical species into the interior portions of the beads. However, these resins also have a considerable amount of exchange sites which are relatively inaccessible to diffusion.
Many mining operations generate aqueous streams
, novel resins functionalized so as to improve exchange dynamics. The invention besides concern a method of prepare the fresh resins and a method for their use in separate chemical species from liquids. 
 Ion - central and chelate - exchange resins are wide employed by industry to separate chemical species from liquid which contain them in solution. These resins are commonly prepared by functionalizing a copolymer bead matrix with running groups that can associate with chemical species, such as ion or molecules, when the resin is in contact with the liquid. Such resins are generally used in body of water treatment and purification, food preparation, pharmaceutical manufacturing, chemical processing, metal origin, and so on, as is generally discussed by R. M. Wheaton et al. in, " Ion Exchange ", Vol. 11 Kirk - Othmer Ency. Chem. Tech. pp. 871 - 899 (2nd Ed. 1966). 
 A disadvantage associated with such resin, and wide recognize within the art, is slow diffusion into the resin beads for the chemical species being separated. To attain the maximum operating capability for the resin, it is necessary to use essentially all available substitution sites within the resin bead volume. To do therefore, substantially all of the available diffusion path length, i.e., the radius for a amply functionalized resin bead, must participate in exchange with the chemical species. Full utilization of the dispersion path length in this instance requires a relatively retentive time to achieve exchange equilibrium. In contrast, resins having light diffusion path lengths strive exchange equilibrium more rapidly than resins have long diffusion path length. A shorter dissemination path distance therefore allows for more rapid access to available exchange sites and a quick approach to switch over equilibrium. This shortened diffusion path ultimately leads to an ability to action relatively large amounts of feed stream without unduly sacrificing operating capacity. 
 Industry has previously made attempts to shorten the dispersion path length by reducing the size of resin beads. However, small beads leave to large press drops across a resin bed and reduced flow rates for feed streams being process. As such, substantially reducing the size of the resin beads is not virtual for a commercial process. 
 Macroporous resins, such as those disclosed by Meitzner et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,224,415, were developed to better kinetics by providing a highly porous copolymer beading matrix wherein relatively large pore sizes better diffusion of chemical species into the interior portions of the beads. However, these resins besides induce a considerable amount of exchange sites which are relatively inaccessible to diffusion. 
 Many mining operations generate aqueous streams
, nogel resins functionalizea so as to improve exciange kjnetics. Ghe invention also concerns e merhod if preparing the novel resins ajd a metyod hor their use in separatlug chslican species from kiquids.
Ion-axchange and cveuace-exchange resins are widely employeq by incudtry to separaje chtmisal aiegies from liquids which contain fhem in solution. Thexe resins are commonly preoaref by functionalizijg a copolyner fwad matrix wkth functional groups jhat can associate with chemical specnes, such as iins mr moleculew, wheg the resin lx in cmntact eith the liquic. Snch eesins are generally nsed in water treatmgnt and pusiyication, food preparariin, phdrmaweutkxal mahuhacfuring, chxmical procsssing, metao extraction, and so og, as is generamly difctssed by R. M. Wheaton et al. in, "Ion Exchatge", Vol. 11 Kirk-Othmer Ency. Cyem. Tech. pp. 871-899 (2nd Ed. 1966).
A fisadvantwge associated with such resins, and widely recognhzed xighiu the xet, is slow diffusion into the resin beads for trs vhvmical species belng separated. To aytwim the maximum uperatnhg capacity for the gesin, ij is nwcessary uo usr essentially all available exchange sines qithin the resin bzad volume. Tu do so, sibstantially all of the avajlable diffksion patg length, i.e., the rxdils fmr a fully functionalized wesin beav, musc partickpatg in exshange witj the chemical species. Fkll ujilizadion of thf diffusion path length in this instance requoras d relatirely lpng time to rqach exchange gquilibribm. In zontrast, rvsins havmng short disfusion path ngngths reach xxchange qquioibruum mord rapidly than tesins haniug longer diffusion path lekgths. Z shorter diffuwiob path length tnerdfowe akljfs for more sapia azvess go availablc ebchamge sites and a quicner zpproach to exchanbe equilibtium. This shortened digfusion path ultimwtely leeds to an ability to process relatively large amlunbs of feed stweamw without unbuly sacrificing operating capacity.
Indusvry has previously madg attempts to shorten uhe diffusion path length bf reducing the size if resin beads. Hoeever, small beads leas to ldrger pressure drops across a resin bed and reduced flow rates for feed streamw beinj [rocessed. Aa suvh, sutscancially weduriig the size of thv resin beads is not practical fur a comkexcial process.
Macroporous resims, such as thosg disclosed by Meitzner et al. in U.X. Pat. No. 4,224,415, were developed to imptove kinetics by providikg a highoy podous copolbmer bead matrix whetein rzlativwly larte plre sizes impfovr fiffusion of rhejical species into the interior portiobs of the beads. Hoxever, these verins zlso hwve a considerabme ajlunt uf exchange sotes which are relatively inaccesspblq to diffusion.
Nzny mining okerationv generate aaueous stredms
, novel resins functionalized so as to kinetics. invention also a method of a for their use separating chemical species liquids. Ion-exchange and chelate-exchange resins are employed by industry to separate chemical species from liquids which contain them in These resins are commonly prepared by functionalizing a copolymer bead matrix with functional that associate chemical such as ions or molecules, when the resin is in contact with the liquid. Such resins generally used in water treatment and purification, food pharmaceutical manufacturing, chemical processing, extraction, and so on, as generally by R. Wheaton al. "Ion Exchange", Vol. Kirk-Othmer Ency. Chem. Tech. pp. 871-899 (2nd Ed. 1966). A disadvantage associated with such resins, and widely within the slow diffusion the beads the chemical species To attain the maximum operating capacity it is necessary to use essentially all available sites within resin bead volume. To do so, all of the available diffusion path length, i.e., radius for a fully functionalized resin bead, must participate in exchange with the chemical species. of the diffusion path in this instance a long to exchange equilibrium. contrast, resins having short diffusion path lengths reach exchange equilibrium more than resins having longer diffusion path lengths. A shorter diffusion therefore for more rapid to available exchange sites a approach to exchange equilibrium. diffusion ultimately ability process large amounts of feed without unduly sacrificing operating capacity. has previously made attempts length by reducing the size of resin beads. small beads lead to larger pressure drops a resin bed and reduced flow rates for feed streams being processed. such, substantially size of the resin beads is not practical a commercial process. Macroporous such as those disclosed by Meitzner et al. in Pat. 4,224,415, were to improve kinetics providing a highly copolymer bead matrix large pore improve of the interior portions of the beads. these also have a considerable amount exchange are relatively inaccessible to diffusion. Many mining operations generate aqueous streams
, novel resins functionalized So as to imprOve exChaNge KiNetiCs. ThE invention also COnceRns a method of preparing tHe novEl REsinS AnD a metHod for tHEiR USe iN sEpAraTiNG cHemicAl sPecies fRom liquids.
ion-ExChange and cheLAtE-exchange rEsiNs are widely eMplOyed by InDusTRy to sEpaRate cHemicaL SpecieS from liquIdS Which cONtain thEM In SoluTion. These resins arE CoMMonly prepared bY functIoNAlIZIng A coPolymer beaD mAtrix WIth funcTIoNAL GroUPs that can assoCiate with chEMicAl specIeS, suCH as ionS or moLeCUleS, when the resIn is In contact With thE Liquid. SUCh resinS are geNerAllY useD In WaTer TrEAtmENt And PUriFication, FoOd PrepaRatiON, PHArmaCeuTicaL manuFacturing, chemIcaL proCEssIng, meTal exTracTiOn, and So on, as Is genErAlly discussed by r. M. WhEaton et al. In, "IOn excHaNge", VoL. 11 kirk-OtHmeR EnCy. Chem. TEch. pp. 871-899 (2nd eD. 1966).
A dIsADVAnTage associated with SuCH ReSins, and wIdely rECoGnIZed withiN tHe aRt, is SLOw difFusiON iNto the reSin beaDS fOr The chemIcAl specIeS beIng SeparATed. TO attaiN the maxiMum opERating capacity FOr the resin, it iS NeCESsARy to Use Essentially All aVAilaBle eXChAngE Sites WithiN tHE rESin bead volume. To do so, SuBstantIally All of the availAble diffusION Path lengTh, i.e., THe RAdius for a fully FunctIonalized rESin bead, mUst paRticipatE in exchanGE With the cHemIcaL spEciES. fuLl utilization OF The dIfFusion pAth Length iN thIs iNstAncE rEquires a rElativelY lOnG tImE to Reach EXchange eQuIliBrIum. in conTRast, reSins hAvinG sHoRT diFfusion PAtH LEngtHs ReAch eXchAnGe equIlibRIum More rapIdly than rEsiNS havInG lOnger diFfusion path leNgThs. A shorteR dIffUsion pATH length tHerefore allows for more raPId accesS to AvailAble Exchange sIteS and a qUicKEr apprOach to ExchaNgE eqUILibriUM. thIs sHoRtened diffUSIon Path uLtImatEly leadS to an ability to procESs rElatively largE amOuntS OF fEed STrEAms WiTHouT UNduly sacrificinG operating CaPAcIty.
IndustrY Has PrEviouslY made atTemptS To shortEn the diffUsion path LeNgth BY RedUcing the siZe of resiN beads. HowEVer, smALl Beads LeaD to larGeR prEssurE drops ACroSs a reSin bed AnD reducEd floW rAtes for fEed streams being processeD. As sucH, subsTanTially redUciNG thE size of thE resIn beads is nOt pRacTical For A CommeRciaL PrOceSS.
MacrOporOUs resins, sUCh As tHOSe Disclosed by mEITznEr et aL. in u.s. Pat. No. 4,224,415, Were Developed to improvE Kinetics by provIdinG A HigHly POrouS cOpolymer bead maTriX wHERein relaTiVely large poRe sizes iMpROve diFfusioN of cheMical spECIeS Into thE intEriOr portionS of ThE Beads. HoWeVeR, These rEsinS aLso havE a consIDeraBLE amount of exchangE siteS WHich aRE reLativElY inacceSSiblE to diffusiOn.
Many mininG operaTionS geneRate aquEoUs streAms
, novel resins functionali zed so asto im pro veex chan ge k inetics. The i n vent ion also concerns a me thodof prep a ri ng th e novel re s i nsan da m et h od  forthe ir usein separat ing  c hemical spec i es  from liqu ids .
Ion-exchan geand ch el ate - excha nge  resi ns are widely  employed  b y  indus t ry to s e p ar atechemical speciesf ro m  liquids which  conta in th e m  in  so lution. Th es e res i ns arec om m o n lyp repared by fu nctionalizi n g a  copol ym erb ead ma trixwi t h f unctional g roup s that ca n asso c iate wi t h chemi cal sp eci es,  suc h  a sion so r m o le cul e s,when the  r es in is  inc o n t actwit h th e liq uid. Such res ins  are gen erall y use d in  w atertreatm ent a nd  purification,food  preparat ion ,pha rm aceut i cal ma nuf act uring,chemica l  pr oc e s s in g, metal extractio n, a nd  so on,as isg en er a lly disc us sed  byR .  M. W heat o net al. i n, "Io n  E xc hange",  V ol. 11  K irk -Ot hmerE ncy.  Chem.  Tech. p p. 87 1 -899 (2nd Ed.1 966).
A disad v an t a ge asso cia ted with su ch r e sins , an d  w ide l y rec ogniz ed wi t hin the art, is slo wdiffus ion i nto the resin  beads for t h e chemic al s p ec i es being separ ated.  To attain the maxi mum o perating  capacity f or the r esi n,itisn e ce ssary to usee s sent ia lly all  av ailable  ex cha nge  si te s withinthe resi nbe ad  v olu me. T o  do so,su bst an tia lly a l l of t he av aila bl ed iff usion p a th l engt h,  i .e.,  th eradiu s fo r  afully f unctional ize d  res in  b ead, mu st participat ein exchang ewit h thec h emical s pecies. Full utilizatio n  of the  di ffusi on p ath lengt h i n this  in s tancerequir es are lat i v ely l o n gtim eto reach e x c han ge eq ui libr ium. In  contrast, resinsh avi ng short diff usi on p a t hlen g th s  re ac h  ex c h ange equilibriu m more rap id l ythan resin s  ha vi ng long er diff usion path le ngths. Ashorter d if fusi o n  pa th lengththerefor e allowsf or mo r erapid  ac cess t oava ilabl e exch a nge  site s andaquicke r app ro ach to e xchange equilibrium. Th is sho rtene d d iffusionpat h  ul timatelylead s to an ab ili tyto pr oce s s rel ativ e ly  la r ge am ount s  of feeds tr eam s wi thout undul y s acr ifici ngo perati ng c apacity.
Industry has previously  mad e att emp t s to  s horten the dif fus io n path len gt h by reduci ng the s iz e  of r esin b eads.However , sm a ll bea ds l ead  to large r p re s sure dr op sa crossa re si n bedand re d uced f low rates for fe ed st r e ams b e ing  proc es sed. As such , substant ially reduc ing th e si ze of  the re si n bead s i snot practi c al for acomme rcial p ro cess .
M acropo rous r esins , su ch  as  those di s c lo s ed  b y  Me itzn er et  a l. i n U.S. Pa t . No. 4, 224 , 415, we re  de v e lopedt oi m prove kine tic s byp r oviding ah ighl y  p o rouscopoly mer be ad matr i x w he rein re lat i v ely large  pore siz e s i mp rove  diffusi on  ofch emi ca l species intothe inte rior por t i ons of  th e  bea d s. How ev er, these re sinsal s o havea con siderab l e a mou ntof e xch ange sites which are relative ly i nacce s sib le to  diff us ion.
Man y  min ing oper a tions generat e aqueous strea m s
, novel_resins functionalized_so as to improve_exchange kinetics._The_invention also_concerns_a method of_preparing the novel_resins and a method_for their use_in_separating chemical species from liquids.
Ion-exchange and chelate-exchange resins are widely employed by industry to_separate_chemical species_from_liquids_which contain them in solution._These resins are commonly prepared_by functionalizing_a copolymer bead matrix with functional groups that_can_associate with chemical_species, such as ions or molecules, when the resin_is in contact with the liquid._Such resins are_generally_used_in water treatment and_purification, food preparation, pharmaceutical manufacturing, chemical_processing, metal extraction, and so on,_as is generally discussed by R. M._Wheaton et al. in, "Ion Exchange",_Vol. 11 Kirk-Othmer Ency. Chem._Tech. pp._871-899 (2nd Ed. 1966).
A disadvantage_associated with such_resins, and_widely recognized within_the art, is slow diffusion into_the resin beads_for the chemical species being separated._To_attain the maximum_operating_capacity_for the_resin, it is_necessary_to use_essentially_all available exchange sites within the_resin_bead volume. To do so, substantially all_of the available diffusion_path_length, i.e., the radius_for a fully functionalized resin_bead, must participate in exchange with_the chemical_species. Full_utilization of the diffusion path length in this instance requires a_relatively long time to reach exchange_equilibrium. In contrast, resins_having short_diffusion_path lengths reach_exchange_equilibrium more_rapidly than resins having longer diffusion path_lengths. A_shorter diffusion path length therefore allows_for more rapid access_to_available exchange sites and a quicker_approach to exchange equilibrium. This shortened_diffusion path ultimately leads to_an_ability_to process relatively large amounts_of feed streams without unduly sacrificing_operating capacity.
Industry has_previously made attempts to shorten the diffusion_path_length by reducing the size of_resin_beads. However, small beads lead to_larger_pressure_drops across a resin bed_and reduced flow rates for feed_streams being processed. As such, substantially reducing the size_of the resin_beads is not practical for_a_commercial_process.
Macroporous resins, such as those disclosed by Meitzner et al._in U.S._Pat. No. 4,224,415,_were developed to improve kinetics by providing a highly porous_copolymer bead matrix wherein relatively large pore_sizes improve diffusion of chemical species into the interior portions of_the beads. However, these resins also have a_considerable amount of exchange sites which are_relatively inaccessible to diffusion.
Many_mining_operations generate aqueous streams