POLYMER AND POLYMER LOADED MATERIALS FOR SCAVENGING ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS FROM NATURAL WATER SOURCES

Abstract

A hydrophilic polymer matrix wherein the polymer matrix comprises one or more monomers or polymers selected from the group consisting of Diglycidyl Ethers, Polyacrylamides, Polyvinyls, Polysaccharides, Polyesters, Esters, Polyethylene Glycols, Polypropylene Glycols, Butanediols, Epoxides or other hydrophilic polymers that are crosslinked to form a flexible non-soluble polymer matrix that has more than one excess or unreacted molecule and wherein excess molecules are available or have electrons available for one or more charge coupling or bonding reactions that are reversible, with one or more target molecules such as but not limited to salts, chlorides, acids and or ion species solvated in water or other solvent.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A hydrophilic polymer matrix wherein the polymer matrix comprises one or more monomers or polymers selected from the group consisting of Diglycidyl Ethers, Polyacrylamides, Polyvinyls, Polysaccharides, Polyesters, Esters, Polyethylene Glycols, Polypropylene Glycols, Butanediols, Epoxides or other hydrophilic polymers that are crosslinked to form a flexible non-soluble polymer matrix that has more than one excess or unreacted molecule and wherein excess molecules are available or have electrons available for one or more charge coupling or bonding reactions that are reversible, with one or more target molecules such as but not limited to salts, chlorides, acids and or ion species solvated in water or other solvent.

19. The hydrophilic polymer matrix of claim 18, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a coating or crosslinked to a substrate made of natural or synthetic material, in the form of a cloth, fiber or filter media wherein the polymer has more than one excess or unreacted molecules that are available or have electrons available for one or more coupling or bonding reaction that is reversible with one or more target molecules solvated in water or other solvent.

20. The hydrophilic polymer matrix of claim 18, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a coating or crosslinked to a substrate made of natural or synthetic material, in the form of a cloth, fiber or filter media, wherein the substrate is biodegradable and wherein the polymer matrix has a biodegradable backbone and has more than one excess or unreacted molecules that are available or have electrons available for one or more coupling or bonding reaction that is reversible with one or more target molecules solvated in water or other solvent.

21. The hydrophilic polymer matrix of claim 19, wherein the substrate comprises woven or non-woven fibers of any diameter or combination of diameters that are woven in a range from 1 to 100 threads per square inch resulting in an open weave pattern of any geometric size, direction or shape.

22. The hydrophilic polymer matrix of claim 20, wherein the substrate comprises woven or non-woven fibers of any diameter or combination of diameters that arc woven in a range from 1 to 100 threads per square inch resulting in an open weave pattern of any geometric size, direction or shape.

23. A method for forming a hydrophilic polymer matrix, which method comprises: (a) reacting a linear di-epoxide polymer with a branched polyethylene or polypropylene polymer with NH2 or NH or other H molecule units that are available to react and crosslink with a hydrophilic di-epoxide and wherein the polymer has more than one excess or unreacted molecules that are that are left available after the crosslink reaction or have electrons available for one or more coupling or bonding reactions that are reversible, with one or more target pollutant molecules solvated in water or other solvent; or (b) reacting a linear diamine polymer with a branched polyethylene or polypropylene with an epoxide or epoxy or other molecule units that are available to react and crosslink with the diamine and wherein the polymer has more than one excess or unreacted molecules that are that are left available after the crosslink reaction or have electrons available for one or more coupling or bonding reactions that are reversible, with one or more target pollutant molecules solvated in water or other solvent and wherein the polymer matrix is coating or crosslinked to a substrate cloth, fiber or filter media; or (c) reacting a polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether and a branched polymer with amine or imine terminals werein the polymer is coating or crosslinked to a substrate cloth consisting of woven fibers, wherein the fiber is biodegradable and wherein the polymer has more than one excess or unreacted molecules that are available or have electrons available for a coupling reaction that is reversible with one or more target molecules solvated in water or other solvent.

24. The method of claim 23(b), wherein the substrate cloth comprises woven or non-woven fibers of any diameter or combination of diameters that are woven in a range from 1 to 100 threads per square inch resulting in an open weave pattern of any geometric direction or shape.

25. The method of claim 23(c), wherein the substrate cloth comprises woven or non-woven fibers of any diameter or combination of diameters that are woven in a range from 1 to 100 threads per square inch resulting in an open weave pattern of any geometric direction or shape.

26. A hydrophilic polymer that can reversibly change color via contact with one or more pollutants and wherein the polymer is coating or crosslinked to a substrate cloth, fibers, or filter media wherein the substrate is molded to form a geometric shape prior to the polymers completing the crosslink reaction and upon finishing crosslinking the substrate cloth or fibers maintain the molded shape.

27. The hydrophilic polymer of claim 26, used as a mat that polluted water comes into contact with and the mat becomes saturated with the target pollutant molecules, wherein the mat can be processed via washing with another electrochemical process, chemical, solvent, water or combination of these to remove the target pollutant molecules and the mat can be reused to collect more pollutants, and/or wherein the target pollutant molecules such as but not limited to metals can be recovered from the wash solution via electrochemistry, evaporation, saturation precipitation or other types of chemistry separation processes.

28. A hydrophilic polymer loaded substrate cloth, fibers or filter media wherein the substrate: (a) is used as a mat or device for cleaning polluted water, wherein the polluted water is brought into contact with the mat or device which becomes saturated with the target pollutant molecules and wherein the target pollutant molecules can be used by another organism and or enzyme as food, energy, nutrients, catalyst and or part of a growing or nutrient cycle, and wherein the organism or plant roots may penetrate the mat wherein the mat slows down the ability of water to evaporate out of the soil or plant media thereby conserving water for the organism or plant; or (b) is used as a mat or device mat for controlled release of water, wherein the mat or device is adapted to absorb and release water over a desired period of time, wherein the period of time is controlled by polymer density, porosity, polymer chain length and molecular affinity for water, and optionally wherein the polymer loaded substrate is used in contact with agriculture runoff to remove ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, phosphorus, potassium or other components from agriculture runoff water and allow water to pass through or over the substrate.

29. A polymer loaded substrate cloth, fibers or filter media which are loaded with polymer and then chopped up, wherein the polymer loaded substrate cloth or fibers are made of a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, burlap, coconut fiber, wood and hark strands, natural materials, man made materials, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene and a mixture of two or more thereof, in singular or combinations of woven and or non woven materials and mixed with potting soils and or media for agriculture use as a growing media.

30. A method for absorbing and releasing water over a period of time, comprising providing a hydrophilic polymer mixture loaded substrate cloth, fibers or filter material, wherein the period of time is controlled by polymer density, porosity, polymer chain length and molecular affinity for water and the desired pollutant and wherein the polymer loaded substrate is used for mining to retain solvated metals and other solvated chemicals in contact with ground water and or runoff water and allow the water to pass through the substrate but retain the target pollutants.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the polymer matrix is ground or milled to produce granules of varying size, and wherein the granules are contained within a porous hag and or container in contact with water or solvent to remove one or more targeted pollutants, and optionally wherein polymer matrix is contained within a porous hag and or container in contact with water to buffer the pH of the water, and/or to strip CO2 or other acids from water, brackish water or sea water.

32. The hydrophilic polymer matrix of claim 18, used as a wicking mechanism in a water purification device wherein the polymer matrix absorbs the water and at a determined rate and wicks the water into an evaporation chamber, wherein the high surface area of the polymer matrix increases the evaporation rate substantially faster than that of standing water, and wherein the polymer matrix is also antimicrobial and anti fungal due to the excess reactive molecules.

33. The hydrophilic polymer matrix of claim 18. loaded on a substrate cloth, fibers or filter and, wherein the evaporated water is re-condensed for reuse

Description

[0026] The previously described hydrophilic polymer matrix (1) is used as a wicking mechanism in a water purification device. The polymer matrix absorbs the water from the water inlet (8) and at a determined rate wicks the water into an evaporation chamber (3) the high surface area of the polymer matrix increases the evaporation rate substantially faster than that of standing water. The polymer matrix is also antimicrobial and anti-fungal due to the excess reactive molecules.

[0027] One or more polymer matrixes are allowed to contact the unpurified water. The polymer matrixes absorb the un purified water and wicks it into an evaporation chamber. Nano porosity of the polymer filters the water and stops any transfer of bacteria or solids or other contaminates. The evaporation chamber or 1.sup.st chamber is curved and or angular at the top and in fluid connection (4) with a higher 2.sup.nd condensation chamber (5) so that evaporated water travels into the second chamber and condenses. The condensate water collects or drips into a 3rd collection chamber (6) that is in fluid connection to the 2.sup.nd chamber. The 2.sup.nd condensation chamber may or may not contain one or more fibers used to increase condensation rate by adding more surface area for the evaporated water to cool on and condense.

[0028] The 3.sup.rd collection chamber has an outlet (7) with a valve to allow release of the stored purified water that can be used for drinking or other things.

[0029] The water purification device additionally has a first section that contains one or more screens (15) for filtering large debris from entering the device. The 1.sup.st section has an inlet side (8) for un purified water to enter and an outlet side that is in fluid connection with the polymer matrix and exposes the un purified water to the polymer matrix. Within the first section there are one or more electrodes, positive (13) and negative (14) the electrodes are in electrical connection (11 & 12) with an electrical power source (9) and controller (10) to control the amount of power that is sent to the electrodes. The electrodes are made of a conductive material such as a metal graphite or carbon. Electrical power is applied to the electrodes to attract and collect the ions of the dissolved salts and minerals within the brackish or saltwater prior to entering the polymer matrix. The one or more polymer matrixes can be removed for cleaning, due to the polymer matrixes elastomeric nature the material can be dried so that any impurities stuck to it will easily clean off due to the change in surface area and tension. In a preferred embodiment the complete device is manufactured of plastic, stainless steel or other easily manufactured materials well known in the art and assembled with standard plumbing components, that can accommodate for the change in temperature and humidity of the water from evaporation to condensation and collection. The polymer matrixes can be molded to a specific geometric shape (2) and size for the device. the polymer matrix can also be loaded onto a high surface area substrate in liquid form prior to polymer crosslinking that fits into the device to increase surface area and evaporation rate. A fan can be added to increase flow of water vapor into condensation chamber.

[0030] This invention is not to be limited in any way by the description as any combination of the preferred embodiments that can be useful and of value as water storing processing and purification applications with multiple uses for water treatment in industry, agriculture and aquaculture.