Method development for metallic ion waste treatment featuring precipitation and supramolecular chemistry

This research entails the results of some studies conducted in the department of chemistry at the Tennessee State University. The studies were conducted to find methods suitable for removing metal contaminates from water. To remove contaminates efficiently is key to a successful waste treatment method. In the case of metal ion waste, the material is viable and can be made into a useful product; so removal and reuse present the opportunity for turning trash into treasure. Methods were developed using chemical precipitation to remove waste and make it a useful end-product. The results of method development for the treatment of K+ and Li+ ion containing waste streams were initially studied. The stepwise process of method development is presented, starting with literature survey, to bench-scale experimentation to optimize the method, and finally, a pilot run of the process on actual waste streams. Given the applications of chemical precipitation; the focus then shifts from alkali metals to d-block metals. Using supramolecular and host-guest chemistry, methods were then studied to precipitate metals and classify metal precipitation complexes insoluble in water and tough to fully characterize. The first host C4A gives a method for a low footprint treatment of d-block metal waste through chemical precipitation. The final portion describes the use of β-CD for the purposes of characterizing precipitants of metal waste that are insoluble or polymerize; and are difficult for application due to the ambiguous nature of the precipitant. These studies all have application for the purposes of water treatment