US 11,865,532 B2
Systems and methods for recycling waste ion exchange materials
Sinue Gomez-Mower, Corning, NY (US); Kai Tod Paul Jarosch, Corning, NY (US); and Matthew Andrews Sevem, Wellsboro, PA (US)
Assigned to CORNING INCORPORATED, Corning, NY (US)
Filed by CORNING INCORPORATED, Corning, NY (US)
Filed on Aug. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/400,161.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/066,470, filed on Aug. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0048020 A1, Feb. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. B01J 49/00 (2017.01); B01J 39/09 (2017.01); B01J 20/04 (2006.01); B01J 20/28 (2006.01); B09B 3/00 (2022.01)
CPC B01J 49/00 (2013.01) [B01J 20/04 (2013.01); B01J 20/28016 (2013.01); B01J 39/09 (2017.01); B09B 3/00 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for recycling waste ion exchange materials comprising a first alkali metal salt and a second alkali metal salt, the method comprising:
reducing the size of the waste ion exchange materials to produce a plurality of waste ion exchange particles having particle sizes from 0.10 mm to 5.0 mm; and
regenerating the plurality of waste ion exchange particles to produce a plurality of regenerated ion exchange particles having a concentration of the first alkali metal salt greater than a concentration of the first alkali metal salt in the waste ion exchange materials,
wherein regenerating the plurality of waste ion exchange particles comprises:
contacting the plurality of waste ion exchange particles with an aqueous solution saturated with the first alkali metal salt to form a regenerated ion exchange slurry; and
separating the regenerated ion exchange slurry to produce a recycled aqueous solution and the plurality of regenerated ion exchange particles.