Binder-Free Potassium Dititanate Adsorbent for Strontium Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing adsorbents for alkaline earth metal ions, particularly strontium, suffer from low adsorption capacity, mechanical weakness, and poor handling properties, leading to issues like fine powder formation and column blockage during water treatment.

Innovation Solution

The development of a potassium hydrogen dititanate hydrate (K2-xHxO·2TiO2·nH2O) with a specific x range of 0.5 to 1.3, produced without a binder, which enhances cation exchange capacity and mechanical strength, allowing for effective strontium removal in radioactive waste treatment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If granular sodium titanate is produced by conventional methods, then it can be used for strontium adsorption, but it has low mechanical strength and forms fine powder during transport and handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidfine powder formation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite structure where spherical core particles (10-100 μm) are coated with amorphous calcium carbonate shell material. This composite structure provides mechanical strength to prevent powder formation while maintaining the adsorption functionality of the core particles. The shell acts as a protective layer that binds the core particles together and prevents their disintegration during handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the adsorbent particles by controlling the size (10-100 μm spherical cores) and applying specific coating treatments with amorphous calcium carbonate. These parameter changes enhance the mechanical strength and handling properties while preserving the adsorption capacity for strontium ions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If adsorbent particles are made smaller to improve flow and filling properties, then handling becomes easier, but mechanical strength decreases and particles break into fine powder

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling propertyVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The composite structure with spherical cores (10-100 μm) and amorphous calcium carbonate shells provides the optimal balance between small particle size for good handling and mechanical strength. The shell material reinforces the smaller particles, preventing them from breaking into fine powder during transport and column filling operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If binder is added to improve mechanical strength, then particle strength increases, but adsorption capacity decreases due to binder substance interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidadsorption capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses amorphous calcium carbonate as a temporary or sacrificial shell material that provides mechanical strength during handling but does not interfere with the adsorption function. The shell is designed to be porous or permeable, allowing ion exchange to occur through it, or it can be removed entirely after column filling, leaving only the active adsorbent particles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The amorphous calcium carbonate shell is likely designed with porous structure that allows strontium ions to penetrate through to the core particles. This porous architecture provides mechanical protection while maintaining adsorption capacity, as the ions can access the active sites on the core particles through the shell pores.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

4Quantity of substance

If conventional granular adsorbent is used, then it provides adsorption function, but particles block filters and prevent smooth water treatment due to fine powder formation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadsorption capacityVSAvoidfilter blockage
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The composite structure with reinforced shells prevents the core particles from breaking into fine powder that would block filters. The spherical shape and shell reinforcement maintain particle integrity during water treatment operations, ensuring smooth flow through the column and filter without blockage, while the core particles retain their full adsorption capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The potassium hydrogen dititanate hydrate exhibits high adsorption capacity and mechanical strength, preventing fine powder formation and column blockage, ensuring efficient and stable strontium removal from contaminated water.

Implementation Method 1

alkali metal titanates are used. One of the alkali metal titanates, potassium titanate, such as potassium tetratitanate has a layer structure in which TiO 5 trigonal bipyramids are chaining, and this is a layer structure in which a potassium ion (K +

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon exchange: Ion Exchange

Implementation Method 2

reacting the alkaline agent with titanium oxide in the above slurry at a temperature of 30 to 150°C for 1 minute to 48 hours to produce a titanate product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP3593899B1Alkaline earth metal ion adsorbent, method for producing same, and alkaline earth metal ion-containing liquid processing apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 TITAN IND INC
  • EP3593899B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3593899B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Provided is a particulate alkaline earth metal ion adsorbent having a large adsorption capacity. The particulate alkaline earth metal ion adsorbent comprising: a potassium hydrogen dititanate hydrate represented by a chemical formula K2-xHxO·2TiO2·nH2O, wherein x is 0.5 or more and 1.3 or less, and n is greater than 0; and no binder, wherein the particulate alkaline earth metal ion adsorbent has a particle size range of 150 µm or more and 1000 µm or less.