Structural Design of Nanoporous Silica Polyamine Composites for Metal Separations in Water

Over the past ten years research at the University of Montana in collaboration with Purity Systems Inc, both located in Missoula, Montana, has resulted in a novel class of chelator materials composed of amorphous, nanoporous silica gels and modified polyamines. These materials offer some distinct advantages over conventional polystyrene based resins especially for applications in the mining industry. This paper will report on the relationship between polymer structure and metal selectivity, the relationship between chelator structure and metal selectivity and further comparisons with polystyrene analogs.