Phosphate-Modified Mesoporous Carbon for Lead Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for removing lead (Pb(II)) from water, such as chemical precipitation, ion-exchange, and adsorption, face challenges like high treatment costs, sludge disposal issues, and limited effectiveness, particularly in achieving the stringent environmental standards set by organizations like the World Health Organization and the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Innovation Solution

A novel adsorbent is created by modifying Ordered Mesoporous Carbon (OMC) with phosphoric acid and nitric acid to incorporate phosphate function groups, enhancing its ability to adsorb Pb(II) ions through increased surface active sites, thereby improving removal efficiency and capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chemical precipitation is used to remove Pb(II) from water, then removal efficiency is improved, but sludge disposal problems and treatment costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremoval efficiencyVSAvoidsludge disposal problems

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs Ordered Mesoporous Carbon (OMC) with a well-defined porous structure to adsorb Pb(II) ions from water. The porous material captures heavy metals through adsorption on its surface and within pores, eliminating the need for chemical precipitation that generates sludge. This resolves the contradiction by achieving effective removal without creating harmful sludge waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the chemical precipitation mechanism (which requires chemical reagents and produces sludge) with an adsorption mechanism using porous carbon material. This substitution eliminates chemical reactions that generate sludge while maintaining effective Pb(II) removal through physical and chemical adsorption processes on the OMC surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If ion-exchange is used to remove Pb(II) from water, then removal efficiency is improved, but treatment costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremoval efficiencyVSAvoidtreatment costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses Ordered Mesoporous Carbon, a cost-effective adsorbent material that can be synthesized from abundant carbon sources through relatively simple carbonization processes. The OMC provides effective Pb(II) removal without requiring expensive ion-exchange resins, thereby reducing treatment costs while maintaining removal efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If unmodified OMC is used as adsorbent, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adsorption capacity and efficiency are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidadsorption capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies phosphoric acid modification to the surface of OMC to introduce phosphate functional groups at specific locations on the carbon surface. This local modification enhances the adsorption capacity and efficiency for Pb(II) ions without fundamentally changing the overall OMC structure or manufacturing process, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical properties of OMC by treating it with phosphoric acid, which changes the surface chemistry by introducing phosphate groups. This parameter change in surface functionality significantly enhances Pb(II) adsorption capacity and efficiency while keeping the base material and overall manufacturing process relatively simple and unchanged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 modified adsorbent, MOMC-NP, demonstrates a significantly higher adsorption capacity and efficiency for Pb(II) removal, achieving equilibrium within a shorter contact time and across a wider pH range, making it a more effective solution for water treatment compared to unmodified OMC and other reported adsorbents.

Implementation Method 1

modifying Ordered Mesoporous Carbon (OMC) with phosphoric acid and nitric acid to incorporate phosphate function groups

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical modification: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

enhancing its ability to adsorb Pb(II) ions through increased surface active sites

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface functionalization: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

adsorb Pb(II) ions through increased surface active sites, thereby improving removal efficiency and capacity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS11554360B2Method of manufacturing an adsorbent and resulting composition of matter

Publication Date: 2023.01.17 UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE

AI summary

The present invention covers a novel method for creating an adsorbent and the resulting novel adsorbent. The method may be used to remove pollutants/unwanted chemicals from water, air, other gases, biological fluids (such as blood, urine, lipids, protein fluids), and other fluids (such as fuel). The adsorbent may be used to remove heavy metals (for example, lead), organic pollutants, inorganic non-meal pollutants (for example, nitrates and bromates). Accordingly, the current invention has many applications including but not limited to water treatment, wastewater treatment, biomedical fluid treatments, gas cleanup, and fuel (oil, gas) cleanup.