Process for the preparation of iron-oxide- and/or iron-oxyhydroxide-containing ion exchangers

1 . A process for the preparation of an iron-oxide- and/or iron-oxyhydroxide-containing ion exchanger, comprising

I) mixing:

a) vinyl monomer

b) crosslinker

c) finely divided iron oxide and/or iron oxyhydroxide

d) dispersion aid and

e) free-radical initiator,

II) curing the resultant mixture in aqueous phase at elevated temperature to give a bead polymer and

III) converting the resultant bead polymer into an ion exchanger by functionalization.

2 . A process according to claim 1 wherein weakly acidic iron-oxide- and/or iron-oxyhydroxide-containing ion exchangers are prepared using as vinyl monomer, acrylic acid methyl ester and/or acrylonitrile and functionalizing the resultant bead polymer by alkaline saponification of the ester or nitrile groups to form weakly acidic groups.

3 . A process according to claim 1 wherein an iron-oxide- and/or iron-oxyhydroxide-containing anion exchanger is prepared by chloromethylating the bead polymer in stage III) first and then aminating the chloromethylated bead polymer.

4 . A process of claim 1 wherein weakly basic iron-oxide- and/or iron-oxyhydroxide-containing anion exchangers are prepared by first chloromethylating the bead polymer from stage II) and then reacting the chloromethylated copolymer in the stage III) with ammonia, a primary amine or a secondary amine.

5 . A process of claim 1 wherein strongly basic iron-oxide- and/or iron-oxyhydroxide-containing anion exchangers are prepared by first chloromethylating the bead polymer from stage II) and then reacting the chloromethylated copolymer in stage III) with tertiary amines.

6 . An iron-oxide- and/or iron-oxyhydroxide-containing ion exchangers obtained by

I) producing a mixture of vinyl monomer, crosslinker, finely divided iron oxide and/or iron oxyhydroxide, dispersion medium and free radical initiator,

II) curing the resultant mixture in aqueous phase at elevated temperature to give a bead polymer and

III) converting the resultant bead polymer into an ion exchanger by functionalization.

7 . A process for adsorbing arsenic and for purifying drinking water, cleaning up wastewater streams of the chemical industry, and of refuse incineration plants, for cleaning up leachate waters from landfills or removing pollutants from liquids or gases comprising contacting the same with the iron-oxide- and/or iron-oxyhydroxide-containing ion exchangers according to claim 1 .

8 . A process for adsorbing arsenic and for purifying drinking water, cleaning up wastewater streams of the chemical industry and of refuse incineration plants, for cleaning up leachate waters from landfills or for removing pollutants from liquids or gases comprising contacting the same with the iron-oxide- and/or iron-oxyhydroxide-containing ion exchangers according to claim 6 .

9 . A process for adsorbing arsenic and for purifying drinking water, cleaning up wastewater streams of the chemical industry and of refuse incineration plants, for cleaning up leachate waters from landfills or for removing pollutants from liquids or gases comprising contacting the same with the iron-oxide- and/or iron-oxyhydroxide-containing ion exchangers according to claim 6 .

10 . An apparatus for removing heavy metal from fluid, comprising the iron-oxide-and/or iron-oxyhydroxide-containing ion exchangers according to stage II of claim 6 , disposed therein to contact the fluid flowing the apparatus.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the iron-oxide- and/or iron-oxyhydroxide containing ion exchangers are contained in a filtration unit.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the iron-oxide- and/or iron-oxyhydroxide containing ion exchangers are contained in an absorption vessel.