RARE EARTH REMOVAL OF PHOSPHORUS-CONTAINING MATERIALS
This disclosure relates generally to methods and rare earth-containing additives for removing inorganic and organic phosphorus-containing target materials.
1 . A method, comprising:
contacting an aqueous medium comprising a phosphorus-containing target material with a rare earth-containing additive to remove at least a portion of the phosphorus-containing target material from the aqueous medium to form a treated aqueous medium, wherein the phosphorus-containing target material comprises one or more of phosphoric acid, phosphinate, non-fluoridated phosphonates, phosphonic acid, phosphinic acid, phosphonite, thiophosphate, thiophosphyoryl amide, and phosphatidylcholine.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the rare earth-containing additive is primarily in the form of cerium (IV), cerium (III) or a mixture of cerium (IV) and cerium (III).
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting step comprises the sub-steps:
contacting the aqueous medium with an oxidizing agent to oxidize the phosphorus-containing target material to form an oxidized phosphorus-containing target material, the oxidized phosphorus-containing target mater having one or both of a different structure and composition than the phosphorus-containing target material; and
thereafter contacting, in the aqueous medium, the rare earth-containing additive with the oxidized phosphorus-containing target material to remove the oxidized phosphorus-containing target material.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting step comprises the sub-steps:
contacting the aqueous medium with a reducing agent to reduce the phosphorus-containing target material to form a reduced phosphorus-containing target material, the reduced phosphorus-containing target material having one or both of a different structure and composition than the phosphorus-containing target material; and
thereafter contacting, in the aqueous medium, the rare earth-containing additive with the reduced target phosphorus-containing target material to remove the reduced phosphorus-containing target material.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting step comprises the sub-steps:
contacting the aqueous medium with a base and/or base equivalent to convert the phosphorus-containing target material to a primary species different from the phosphorus-containing target material; and
thereafter contacting, in the aqueous medium, the rare earth-containing additive with the primary species to remove the primary species.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting step comprises the sub-steps:
contacting the aqueous medium with an acid and/or acid equivalent to convert the phosphorus-containing target material to a primary species different from the phosphorus-containing target material; and
thereafter contacting, in the aqueous medium, the rare earth-containing additive with the primary species to remove the primary species.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the rare earth-containing additive is water-soluble.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the rare earth-containing additive is water-insoluble.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the phosphorus-containing target material is selected from the group consisting essentially of phosphoric acid, phosphinate, phosphinite, non-fluoridated phosphonates, phosphonic acid, phosphinic acid, phosphonite, thiophosphate, and thiophosphyoryl ester.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the phosphorus-containing target material comprises phosphatidylcholine.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the phosphorus-containing target material comprises a thiophosphyoryl amide.
12 . A composition, comprising:
an aqueous medium,
a rare earth-containing additive,
a phosphorus-containing target material comprising one or more of one or more of phosphoric acid, phosphinate, phosphinite, non-fluoridated phosphonates, phosphonic acid, phosphinic acid, phosphonite, thiophosphate, thiophosphyoryl ester, thiophosphyoryl amide, and phosphatidylcholine, and
a target-laden rare earth composition formed by the rare earth-containing additive and the phosphorus-containing target material.
13 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein the rare earth-containing additive comprises primarily cerium and wherein the target-laden rare earth composition is a complex formed by the rare earth-containing additive and phosphorus-containing target material.
14 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein the rare earth-containing additive comprises primarily cerium and wherein the target-laden rare earth composition is formed by sorption of the phosphorus-containing target material by the rare earth-containing additive.
15 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein the rare earth-containing additive comprises primarily cerium and wherein the target-laden rare earth composition is formed by a chemical reaction between the phosphorus-containing target material and the rare earth-containing additive.
16 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein the rare earth-containing additive is water-soluble.
17 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein the rare earth-containing additive is water-insoluble.
18 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein the phosphorus-containing target material is selected from the group consisting essentially of phosphoric acid, phosphinate, phosphinite, non-fluoridated phosphonates, phosphonic acid, phosphinic acid, phosphonite, thiophosphate, and thiophosphyoryl ester.
19 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein the phosphorus-containing target material comprises phosphatidylcholine.
20 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein the phosphorus-containing target material comprises a thiophosphyoryl amide.