| Category | Cleantech & Environment, Water Technologies |
| Keywords | Water purification, heavy metal removal |
| Current development stage | TRL4 Technology validated in lab |
| Collaboration Opportunity | Sponsored Research with an option to License Research Results |
Background
Process industries use metals and chemicals during production which results in large quantities of liquid waste containing high levels of toxic heavy-metal ions. Conventional treatments to remove heavy metals from aqueous solutions are expensive and still generate large quantities of toxic chemical sludge.
Our Innovation
The researcher, Prof. Amos Nussinovitch, has developed novel hydrocolloid capsules with unique liquid – or semi-solid-cores that can efficiently absorb heavy metal cations from industrial waste streams and can be regenerated/reused for multiple purposes.
The advantage of these capsules over current technologies include:
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Simple and low-cost production process
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Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) materials
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The capsules are almost perfectly spherical, allowing for reproducible packing of a purification filtration column.
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The thin membrane of the liquid-core capsule decreases the diffusion times of the heavy metal cations into the capsule.
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The outer shell’s mechanical strength can be increased.
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These types of capsules are new to the water waste detoxification industry and offer a more promising solution than current technologies.
Technology: Liquid-Core Capsules Results
Capsules with the absorbed heavy metals may be regenerated after use. Three regeneration cycles have been tested.
Heavy metals such as lead, copper, cadmium and nickel are absorbed very well by the capsules.
Semi-Solid Core Capsules
Similar to the liquid-core capsules, Prof. Nussinovitch has also developed semi-solid core capsules which exhibit exceptional removal of arsenic (see below). We expect that these capsules will also absorb anions such as phosphate, chromate, sulphate, etc.
Opportunity
Companies seeking cost-effective and environmentally friendly waste-water treatment technologies can sponsor further research or partner with us for industrial scale-up and development of commercial products.
PATENT STATUS
Granted US 10,413,515
