PSI Resin Overview
The PSI patented technology is built around silica-polyamine composite materials that offer unique advantages as a scaffolding building base. The silica composite structure allows use of varied metal ion removal ligands in order to achieve selectivity for target metals. The silica base material and polymer coating offer several advantages.
SILICA BASE PROVIDES ROBUST FOUNDATION FOR FUNCTIONAL LIGANDS
The silica bead used in PSI resins provides structural reliability in acidic processing environments. Beads are available in two size ranges to accomodate varying flow rates. The silica base acts as a highly porous foundation for a variety of functional ligands thus providing a robust and flexible platform for targeting specific metals.
POLYAMINES CONTAIN CHELATING BINDING AGENTS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR STRUCTURE
SILICA BASE PROVIDES ROBUST FOUNDATION FOR FUNCTIONAL LIGANDS
The silica bead used in PSI resins provides structural reliability in acidic processing environments. Beads are available in two size ranges to accomodate varying flow rates. The silica base acts as a highly porous foundation for a variety of functional ligands thus providing a robust and flexible platform for targeting specific metals.
POLYAMINES ARE WATER SOLUBLE MAKING THE PARTICLE SURFACE HYDROPHILIC
The water solubility of the polymer is important from an environmental standpoint as it negates the use of toxic organic solvents in reactions involving the polymer. Many of the ligand addition reactions are completed in water and/or methyl alcohol. Another important environmental factor is that these materials can be used to extract metal atoms, ions and complexes directly from aqueous media without first extracting them into a toxic, often flammable, organic phase first, such as done in solvent extraction. The use of water-soluble polymers also promotes faster capture kinetics.
POLYAMINES CONTAIN CHELATING BINDING AGENTS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR STRUCTURE
The polyamines used to synthesize PSI products are high in amine nitrogen’s. Nitrogen atoms are incorporated into the polymer through the chemically robust carbon - nitrogen bonds that have the ability to withstand the conditions likely encountered during most metal extraction processes. The density of the nitrogen atoms coupled with the conformational freedom afforded through their incorporation into a water soluble polymer makes this arrangement particularly effective at removing contaminant metals from aqueous solutions.
CHELATING AGENTS ALSO OFFER SITES FOR FACILE ADDITION OF LIGANDS - MOLECULES THAT CAN FINE-TUNE THE METAL SELECTIVITY OF THE ION EXCHANGE RESIN
The robust carbon - nitrogen bonding is essential in promoting the physical stability of the material. This stability allows PSI the flexibility to modify and customize ligand substituents for special applications.