An inexpensive ion-exchange apparatus with an increased ion-exchange capacity has a raw-water tank (1), a treatment tank (2) and an ion exchanger (3). The raw-water tank (1) contains a to be treated liquid. The liquid contains impurity ions. The treatment tank (2) contains a treatment material that contains exchange ions exchangeable with the impurity ions. The ion exchanger (3) enables passage of the impurity ions from the raw-water tank (1) to the treatment tank (2) and the passage of the exchange ions from the treatment tank (2) to the raw-water tank (1). The treatment material in the treatment tank (2) has a higher molarity than the to be treated liquid in the raw-water tank 1.

The present invention is directed to a ligated metal-organic framework (MOF) for use in removing both anionic and cationic species from a liquid or liquid stream. The present invention also provides methods for placing the MOF on a substrate to form a MOF-containing product that can be used in the removal of certain species from a given fluid. The MOF may be a Zr-based MOF, such as NU-1000, for removal of certain anions, such as oxy-anions, or having an attached thiosulfonyl-thiol (—SO.sub.2—S—R.sub.2—SH, where R.sub.2 is an alkyl group) ligand for complexation with certain cationic species in addition to the anions. The substrate may be any substrate to which a given MOF may be attached, including inert polypropylene polymer resin beads, a macroscopic fabric such as a mesh material or mesh filter, and a molecular fabric.

The present invention is directed to a ligated metal-organic framework (MOF) for use in removing both anionic and cationic species from a liquid or liquid stream. The present invention also provides methods for placing the MOF on a substrate to form a MOF-containing product that can be used in the removal of certain species from a given fluid. The MOF may be a Zr-based MOF, such as NU-1000, for removal of certain anions, such as oxy-anions, or having an attached thiosulfonyl-thiol (—SO.sub.2—S—R.sub.2—SH, where R.sub.2 is an alkyl group) ligand for complexation with certain cationic species in addition to the anions. The substrate may be any substrate to which a given MOF may be attached, including inert polypropylene polymer resin beads, a macroscopic fabric such as a mesh material or mesh filter, and a molecular fabric.

A method of removing boron from water to be treated includes subjecting the water to be treated to reverse osmosis membrane treatment, subjecting at least part of permeated water after the reverse osmosis membrane treatment to cation-removing treatment, and measuring a concentration of boron in the resulting permeated water after the cation-removing treatment, in which a measured value for the concentration of boron is used to regulate at least one of: (a) the recovery rate of water to be treated in the above reverse osmosis membrane treatment, (b) the temperature of the water to be treated, (c) the pH of the water to be treated, (d) the supply pressure of the water to be treated, which pressure is applied to the reverse osmosis membrane during the reverse osmosis membrane treatment, and (e) when the reverse osmosis membrane used for the reverse osmosis membrane treatment should be changed.

Extraction of platinum-group elements, e.g. Pd, by adsorption from acidic aqueous solutions, using chelating acrylic fibers having amidoxime substituents followed by recovery by elution with an HCl-thiourea solution. From about 10% to 100% of the acrylic fiber CN are converted to amidoxime by reaction with NH.sub.2OH (hydroxylamine) in H.sub.2O/MeOH solution in the range of 30° C.-90° C. for from 15 min to 72 hrs. The adsorptive loading of elements onto the fiber and the efficiency of elution therefrom is substantially 100%, in multiple cycles of adsorption/elution. The novel fiber/extraction process is rapid, lending it to a continuous recovery operation. A portion of the CN groups of may be converted to carboxylate groups by reaction with NaOH. Short lengths of fiber are loaded into a vertical column and the pregnant solution introduced. Upon breakthrough, the fibers may be eluted, washed and recycled hundreds of times without removal from the column.

An energy efficient and durable thermal swing type carbon dioxide recovery and concentration device can be made smaller and use low-temperature heat waste of 100 C. or less. A honeycomb rotor carries adsorption particles having a sorption capacity for carbon dioxide. The rotor is rotated in a sealed casing divided into at least an sorption zone and a desorption zone and is brought into contact with material gas that contains carbon dioxide in a state wherein the honeycombs in the sorption zone are moist so as to adsorb the carbon dioxide while carrying out evaporative cooling of water. Then, the honeycombs that have adsorbed the carbon dioxide are moved to the desorption zone and brought into contact with low pressure vapor so as to desorb high concentration carbon dioxide. Thus, it is possible to continuously recover carbon dioxide at a high recovery rate and high concentration.

A process for removing Co.sup.2+, Pb.sup.2+, Cd.sup.2+ and Cr.sup.3+ toxins from bodily fluids is disclosed. The process involves contacting the bodily fluid with an ion exchange composition to remove the metal toxins in the bodily fluid, including blood and gastrointestinal fluid. Alternatively, blood can be contacted with a dialysis solution which is then contacted with the ion exchange composition. The ion exchange compositions are represented by the following empirical formula:

A.sub.mZr.sub.aTi.sub.bSn.sub.cM.sub.dSi.sub.xO.sub.y.

A composition comprising the above ion exchange compositions in combination with bodily fluids or dialysis solution is also disclosed. The ion exchange compositions may be supported by porous networks of biocompatible polymers such as carbohydrates or proteins.

A process for removing Co.sup.2+, Pb.sup.2+, Cd.sup.2+ and Cr.sup.3+ toxins from bodily fluids is disclosed. The process involves contacting the bodily fluid with an ion exchange composition to remove the metal toxins in the bodily fluid, including blood and gastrointestinal fluid. Alternatively, blood can be contacted with a dialysis solution which is then contacted with the ion exchange composition. The ion exchange compositions are represented by the following empirical formula:

A.sub.mZr.sub.aTi.sub.bSn.sub.cM.sub.dSi.sub.xO.sub.y.

A composition comprising the above ion exchange compositions in combination with bodily fluids or dialysis solution is also disclosed. The ion exchange compositions may be supported by porous networks of biocompatible polymers such as carbohydrates or proteins.

A process for removing Sr.sup.2+ toxins from bodily fluids is disclosed. The process involves contacting the bodily fluid with an ion exchanger to remove the metal toxins in the bodily fluid, including blood and gastrointestinal fluid. Alternatively, blood can be contacted with a dialysis solution which is then contacted with the ion exchanger. The ion exchangers are represented by the following empirical formula:

A.sub.mZr.sub.aTi.sub.bSn.sub.cM.sub.dSi.sub.xO.sub.y.

A composition comprising the above ion exchange compositions in combination with bodily fluids or dialysis solution is also disclosed. The ion exchange compositions may be supported by porous networks of biocompatible polymers such as carbohydrates or proteins.

A process for removing Sr.sup.2+ toxins from bodily fluids is disclosed. The process involves contacting the bodily fluid with an ion exchanger to remove the metal toxins in the bodily fluid, including blood and gastrointestinal fluid. Alternatively, blood can be contacted with a dialysis solution which is then contacted with the ion exchanger. The ion exchangers are represented by the following empirical formula:

A.sub.mZr.sub.aTi.sub.bSn.sub.cM.sub.dSi.sub.xO.sub.y.

A composition comprising the above ion exchange compositions in combination with bodily fluids or dialysis solution is also disclosed. The ion exchange compositions may be supported by porous networks of biocompatible polymers such as carbohydrates or proteins.