WO2016046762A1 - Method for removing organic impurities from water - Google Patents

Method for removing organic impurities from water Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2016046762A1
WO2016046762A1 PCT/IB2015/057328 IB2015057328W WO2016046762A1 WO 2016046762 A1 WO2016046762 A1 WO 2016046762A1 IB 2015057328 W IB2015057328 W IB 2015057328W WO 2016046762 A1 WO2016046762 A1 WO 2016046762A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
styrene
thermoplastic elastomer
water
parts
substituents
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2015/057328
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French (fr)
Inventor
Eric Kiekens
Original Assignee
Avore Nv
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Publication date
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Publication of WO2016046762A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016046762A1/en

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/28—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by sorption
    • C02F1/285—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by sorption using synthetic organic sorbents
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/22—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising organic material
    • B01J20/26—Synthetic macromolecular compounds
    • B01J20/264—Synthetic macromolecular compounds derived from different types of monomers, e.g. linear or branched copolymers, block copolymers, graft copolymers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/30—Processes for preparing, regenerating, or reactivating
    • B01J20/34—Regenerating or reactivating
    • B01J20/3425—Regenerating or reactivating of sorbents or filter aids comprising organic materials
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/42—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by ion-exchange
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2101/00—Nature of the contaminant
    • C02F2101/30—Organic compounds
    • C02F2101/305—Endocrine disruptive agents

Definitions

  • the present invention is related to a method for removing organic impurities, in particular steroids, from water.
  • Various methods are known for treating contaminated water, including mechanical methods such as natural flotation, forced flotation, filtration, centrifugal gravity separation; electromagnetic methods such as ultrasound, electrolytic, and electrophoresis-based separation methods; other physical or chemical methods such as those based on adsorption, absorption, ion exchange, and coagulation, as well as biological separation methods using microorganisms.
  • US 2007/0209999 describes a system for treating wastewater comprising a bioreactor that comprises a bacterial population and an adsorbent, specifically active charcoal in powder form.
  • a bioreactor that comprises a bacterial population and an adsorbent, specifically active charcoal in powder form.
  • the examples in this application illustrate the removal of endocrine disruptors.
  • EP 1857541 B1 describes microorganisms that break down oestrogens and a method for breaking down these oestrogens in household wastewater and wastewater from stockbreeding facilities.
  • WO 2008/039360 describes a method for destroying pharmaceuticals and personal care products, e.g., oestrogens, antibiotics, and others, in aqueous solutions using ultrasound vibrations.
  • US 7,491 ,339 describes a method for the destruction of pollutants in water by ultraviolet irradiation, using photo-catalysis with titanium dioxide. It is noted that this method allows for the efficient destruction of ⁇ -oestradiol in low concentrations in drinking water and household water.
  • US 2009/131698 describes a method for removing oestrogens from urine, whereby the urine is brought into contact with a macroporous adsorption resin consisting of styrene, divinylbenzene, and an ester group structure originating from methyl methacrylate.
  • the resin is a thermosetting resin due to the presence of divinylbenzene (branched via covalent bonds), and contains polar ester structures.
  • US 2009/312293 describes a method for removing and purifying hydrophilic water-soluble products such as oestrogens using a porous adsorption resin consisting of styrene and divinylbenzene, with bromo groups being present on styrene and/or divinylbenzene.
  • the resin is a thermosetting resin due to the presence of divinylbenzene (branched via covalent bonds), and contains polar carbon-bromine bonds.
  • JP2000317305 describes a polymer composition for removing endocrine disruptors.
  • the polymer composition includes a polymer (A), selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyvinyl acetate, polymethacrylate, polyamide, epoxy resin, and rubber, and a polymer (B) that includes cyclic amide structures and/or cyclic urethane structures and acts as an additive for the adsorption of endocrine disruptors.
  • the primary objective of this invention is to provide a method that is not subject to the limitations or disadvantages of the prior-art methods.
  • the objective of this invention is to provide an economical method for removing specific organic impurities from water, whereby various impurities can be removed simultaneously and the material used in this method can be efficiently recycled.
  • the invention provides a new method for removing organic impurities, that comprise a steroid skeleton or one derived therefrom, from water.
  • the method is based on contacting the contaminated water with a thermoplastic elastomer, whereby organic impurities are absorbed and/or adsorbed into the thermoplastic elastomer.
  • the method thus comprises the steps of:
  • thermoplastic elastomer a) adding thermoplastic elastomer to contaminated water
  • thermoplastic elastomer may be a block copolymer, preferably including styrene-based rigid sequences, causing the impurity to be removed from the water and taken up into the elastomer.
  • the thermoplastic elastomer containing the impurities may be freed of the impurities and be reused.
  • thermoplastic elastomers containing organic impurities are then efficiently regenerated, e.g., by means of an extraction process.
  • the invention concerns a method in which the organic impurities comprise a 2, 3,4, 5,6,7,8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17-hexadecahydro-1 H- cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene skeleton or a skeleton derived therefrom that:
  • ⁇ may comprise one or more methyl, hydroxyl, aldehyde, amine, amide (- NH-CO-R), or oxygen substituents, and
  • substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, oxygen, a hydrocarbon substituent and an aromatic substituent, wherein :
  • - may comprise one or more unsaturated double and/or triple bonds
  • - may comprise one or more heteroatoms
  • - may comprise one or more substituents
  • - may comprise one or more heteroatoms.
  • the organic impurities comprise a
  • the organic impurity is a natural or synthetic hormone or hormone analogue.
  • the organic impurity is an endocrine disruptor.
  • thermoplastic elastomer is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon that is free of heteroatoms.
  • thermoplastic elastomer is a block copolymer comprising rigid sequences obtained by polymerising monovinyl arenes and soft sequences obtained by polymerising alkylenes or copolymerising monovinyl arenes and alkylenes.
  • the thermoplastic elastomer comprises between 10 and 60 wt. %, preferably between 15 and 50 wt. %, more preferably between 20 and 40 wt. % of rigid sequences.
  • the thermoplastic elastomer is a block copolymer selected from the group of styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene- isoprene-styrene, styrene-isobutylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene.
  • the method according to the invention comprises the following steps:
  • thermoplastic elastomer a) adding thermoplastic elastomer to a stationary quantity of contaminated water
  • thermoplastic elastomer b) absorbing and/or adsorbing the organic impurities in the thermoplastic elastomer.
  • step a) between 10 "7 and 100 parts, preferably between 10 "5 and 80 parts, more preferably between 10 "3 and 60 parts, or even between 10 ⁇ 1 and 50 parts thermoplastic elastomer are added per 100 parts water.
  • step b) takes place over a period of between 1 s and 24 h, preferably between 10 s and 10 h, more preferably between 20 s and 6 h.
  • the contaminated water is pumped through one or more containers that are fully or partially filled with thermoplastic elastomer, whereby several reactors are arranged in parallel and/or in series, and whereby the contaminated water preferably flows upwards through the container(s).
  • the flow rate of contaminated water through the container(s) is between 10 and 100,000 parts/h, preferably between 20 and 75,000 parts/h, and more preferably between 30 and 50,000 parts/h, or even between 50 and 20,000 parts/h for a total of 100 parts thermoplastic elastomer in the container(s).
  • the method comprises an additional step in which the thermoplastic elastomer containing impurities is separated and regenerated, preferably by means of an extraction process.
  • the invention also concerns the use of the method according to the invention for purifying household water, industrial wastewater, surface water, drinking water, and water treatment facility effluent.
  • This present invention concerns a method for removing organic impurities from water in which a thermoplastic elastomer is brought into contact with the contaminated water.
  • 'Contaminated water' refers in the context of this invention preferably to contaminated surface water, drinking water, household and industrial wastewater, and water treatment facility effluent, whereby the concentration of organic impurity is 50 g/l is or less, preferably 10 g/l or less, preferably 1 g/l or less, preferably 500 mg/l or less, preferably 100 mg/l or less, preferably 1 mg/l or less, preferably 500 pg/l or less, preferably 100 pg/l or less, preferably 1 pg/l or less, preferably 500 ng/l or less, preferably 100 ng/l, preferably 10 ng/l or less, or even 1 ng/l or less.
  • the concentration of organic impurities is at least 1 pg/l, preferably at least 10 pg/l, preferably at least 100 pg/l, preferably at least 1 ng/l, preferably at least 10 ng/l, preferably at least 100 ng/l, preferably at least 1 9 ⁇ , preferably at least 10 pg/l, preferably at least 100 pg/l, preferably at least 1 mg/l, preferably at least 10 mg/l, preferably at least 100 mg/l, preferably at least 1 g/10, preferably at least 10 g/l.
  • Organic impurity' refers in the context of this invention to the undesired presence of one or more natural or synthetic substances comprising a steroid skeleton or a skeleton derived therefrom.
  • the steroidal substances comprise the group consisting of secosteroids, norsteroids, and homosteroids, and comprise natural or synthetic hormones, comprising glucocorticoids, mineral corticoids, androgens, oestrogens, progestogens, and D vitamins.
  • organic impurities in this invention are modified steroids, e.g., cholesterol, e.g., present in cosmetics and personal care products, abiraterone, an antiandrogen, and endocrine disruptors such as oestrogens including oestriol, oestradiol, oestrone, and ethinyl oestradiol.
  • modified steroids e.g., cholesterol, e.g., present in cosmetics and personal care products, abiraterone, an antiandrogen, and endocrine disruptors such as oestrogens including oestriol, oestradiol, oestrone, and ethinyl oestradiol.
  • the thermoplastic polymers used according to the invention are physically crosslinked polymers, e.g., via Van der Waals forces, and are free of crosslinking by means of covalent bonds.
  • the thermoplastic elastomer used in the invention is a block copolymer, preferably a tri-block copolymer consisting of rigid and soft sequences, whereby the rigid sequences are obtained by polymerising monovinylarene, and whereby the soft sequences are obtained by polymerising alkylenes or copolymerising alkylenes and monovinylarene.
  • the thermoplastic elastomers used in this embodiment are saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons free of heteroatoms. They are free of heteroatoms in particular:
  • substituents of the polymer chains such as chloro, bromo, or fluoro substituents.
  • thermoplastic elastomers used in this embodiment are free of polar groups.
  • polymer chains are physically crosslinked by association of the rigid polyvinylarene sequences, whereby the organic impurity is taken up into the soft sequences.
  • the glass transition temperature of the soft sequences should be low enough that, during the purification process, they are sufficiently mobile to absorb and/or adsorb the impurities.
  • the glass transition temperature of the rigid sequences should be high enough that the thermoplastic elastomers do not cake together during the purification process.
  • the alkylene is a conjugated diene
  • an unsaturated thermoplastic elastomer is obtained
  • a saturated thermoplastic elastomer is obtained.
  • the monovinylarene is preferably selected from the group consisting of styrene, a-methyl styrene, and vinyl toluene.
  • the monovinylarene is preferably styrene.
  • the alkylene is preferably selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, butylene, isobutylene, pentene, hexene, octene, butadiene, isoprene, 2,3-dimethyl-1 ,3-butadiene, pyperylene, 3-butyl-1 ,3-octadiene, and phenyl- 1 ,3-butadiene.
  • the alkylene is preferably butadiene or isoprene, to form an unsaturated thermoplastic elastomer, and ethylene, propylene, or butylene to form a saturated thermoplastic elastomer.
  • the block copolymers to be used in the method according to the invention are preferably selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene- styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-isobutylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene- butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-ethylene- propylene-styrene.
  • thermoplastic elastomers preferably used in the method according to the present invention are prepared as described in for example WO 1995/35335 or WO 1997/40079, and may be prepared by anionic polymerisation in an apolar solvent with addition of a polar cosolvent or a potassium salt.
  • thermoplastic elastomer of the present invention includes between 10 and 60 wt. %, preferably between 15 and 50 wt. %, more preferably between 20 and 40 wt. % of rigid sequences.
  • thermoplastic elastomers preferably used in the method of the invention are characterised by a melt flow rate (MFR) (200 °C/5 kg) between 2 and 50 g/10 min, preferably between 5 and 20 g/10 min.
  • MFR melt flow rate
  • thermoplastic elastomers preferably used in the method of the present invention are block copolymers, whereby the soft sequence has a molecular weight between 2000 and 250,000 g/mole, and a glass transition temperature as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of 25 °C or less, and whereby the rigid sequence has a molecular weight of between 1000 and 200,000 g/mole and a glass transition temperature higher than 25 °C.
  • DSC differential scanning calorimetry
  • the soft sequences preferably have a glass transition temperature as determined by DSC between 25 and -110°C, preferably between 5 and -100°C, and more preferably between -10 and -90°C, or even between -20 and -90°C.
  • thermoplastic elastomers used in the method of the invention may comprise other components and/or additives such as thermoplastic homo- and/or copolymers, thermosetting polymers, fillers, wetting agents, surfactants, foaming agents, anti-foaming agents, pigments, colorants, antistatic agents, stabilisers, antioxidants, flow improvers, and flame retardants.
  • the density of the thermoplastic elastomer to be used in the method of the invention is between 0.5 and 1.5 g/cm 3 and preferably between 0.8 and 1.3 g/cm 3 .
  • thermoplastic elastomer is preferably used in granulate, tube, or powder form, but may generally be in any form.
  • the contaminated water is brought into contact with the thermoplastic elastomer, whereby organic impurities are absorbed and/or adsorbed into the thermoplastic elastomer.
  • This absorption and/or adsorption into thermoplastic elastomers itself is not known from the prior art.
  • the contaminated water may be contacted with the thermoplastic elastomer either in a stationary fashion, whereby a certain amount of elastomer is added to the stationary quantity of contaminated water, or a non-stationary fashion, whereby the water is pumped at a certain flow rate through one or more containers, having an inlet and an outlet, that are arranged serially or in parallel and filled with thermoplastic elastomer.
  • Both the stationary and non-stationary variant of the method comprise the following steps:
  • thermoplastic elastomer a) adding thermoplastic elastomer to contaminated water
  • thermoplastic elastomer b) absorbing and/or adsorbing the organic impurities in the thermoplastic elastomer.
  • the method according to the present invention allows for a decrease in the concentration of organic impurities of 50% or more, preferably 60% or more, 70% or more, 80% or more, 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or 99.9% or more compared to the initial concentration.
  • the method according to the present invention allows to obtain purified water with a concentration of residual organic impurities of 10 g/l or less, preferably 1 g/l or less, more preferably 500 mg/l or less, more preferably 100 mg/l or less, more preferably 1 mg/l or less, more preferably 500 pg/l or less, more preferably 100 pg/l or less, more preferably 1 pg/l or less, more preferably 500 ng/l or less, more preferably 100 ng/l, more preferably 10 ng/l or less, more preferably 1 ng/l or less, more preferably 500 pg/l or less, more preferably 100 pg/l or less, more preferably 10 pg/l or less, more preferably 1 pg/l or less.
  • between 10 "7 en 100 g, preferably between 10 "5 and 80 g, more preferably between 10 "3 and 60 g, or even between 10 ⁇ 1 and 50 g of the thermoplastic elastomer is added to 100 g contaminated water, depending on the degree of contamination and the type of impurities.
  • the contaminated water is preferably between 0 and 25 °C, but, if necessary, may be heated.
  • the thermoplastic elastomer remains in contact with the contaminated water for a period comprised between 1 s and 24 h, preferably between 10 s and 10 h, depending on the degree of contamination and the type of impurities. Stirring may be performed during this period.
  • thermoplastic elastomer is separated from the water, e.g., by means of filtration.
  • the water may be tested for any remaining impurities using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry.
  • thermoplastic elastomer may be freed of the acquired impurities it , e.g., by means of Soxhlet-type extraction using an apolar solvent such as (cyclo)hexane, isooctane, toluene, or xylene. After the extraction, the thermoplastic elastomer is dried, e.g., in a convection oven, at a temperature of e.g., 50 °C, possibly at reduced pressure.
  • apolar solvent such as (cyclo)hexane, isooctane, toluene, or xylene.
  • the dried granules may be reused in a subsequent water purification process.
  • one or more containers filled with thermoplastic elastomer are used, whereby the contaminated water flows through the elastomer, e.g., upward through the one or more containers, whereby the flow rate of the water, according to one embodiment, is between 10 and 100,000 parts/h, preferably between 20 and 75,000 parts/h, more preferably between 30 and 150,000 parts/h, or even between 50 and 20,000 parts/h, depending on the degree of contamination and the type of impurities, for one or more containers containing a total of 100 parts thermoplastic elastomer.
  • the contaminated water flowing through the one or more containers is preferably at a temperature between 0 and 25 °C, but, if necessary, may be heated in advance, whereby the one or more containers may be adiabatically sealed.
  • thermoplastic elastomer of the one or more replaced containers may be recycled as described above.
  • salt may be added to the contaminated water in order to reduce the solubility of certain impurities in the water and to increase the capacity of the thermoplastic elastomer to receive impurities.
  • sodium chloride may be added to the contaminated water in order to obtain a concentration of between 100 and 350 g salt per litre of water.
  • Example 1 Synthesis of a thermoplastic elastomer based on styrene and butadiene.
  • a styrene-butadiene/styrene-styrene tri-block copolymer was prepared according to a method described in WO 1997/40079.
  • a 50 I reactor was loaded with 22.8 I dry cyclohexane and 1638 g dry styrene and brought to a temperature of 40°C, whereby the polymerisation is initiated by adding 87.3 mmol sec-butyllithium (12 wt. % in dry cyclohexane) and 2.36 mmol potassium tert- amylate (5 wt. % in dry cyclohexane). The reaction mixture was stirred for 30 min, maintaining a temperature of 68 °C.
  • the reaction mixture was then cooled to 50 °C, and 1250 g butadiene and 1 126 g styrene were simultaneously added. The temperature increased to 74 °C. After a polymerisation time of 13 min, the resultant reaction mixture was cooled down to 55 °C, and a second amount consisting of 1250 g butadiene and 1 126 g styrene was added. The temperature increased to 76°C. After a polymerisation time of 13 min, the mixture was cooled down to 550°C, and a third amount consisting of 1250 g butadiene and 1 126 g styrene was added, whereby the temperature increased to 75 °C. After 17 min, 1638 g styrene was added at a temperature of 70 °C, whereby the temperature increased to 80 °C.
  • the polymerisation was terminated by adding 200 mmol isopropanol, acidified by the addition of carbon dioxide and water and stabilised by adding 35 g Irganox ® 3052 and 80 g Weston ® TNPP. Then, the polymer was freed of solvent and transformed into granulate form by means of an extruder.
  • the thermoplastic elastomer was characterised by an average molecular weight of 140,000 g/mol and 2 glass transition temperatures, whereby the first glass transition temperature was between -25 and -55 °C, and the second glass transition temperature was between 60 and 100 °C.
  • thermoplastic elastomer included 31.5 wt. % polystyrene block.
  • Example 2 Purification of an industrial wastewater sample
  • sample 1 An industrial wastewater sample (sample 1) was collected at the outlet and analysed for 17ct-oestradiol, 17 -oestradiol, oestrone, and ethinyl oestradiol.
  • thermoplastic elastomer of example 1 100 g were added to a container containing 200 g of contaminated water, whereby the contents were maintained at 40 °C for 6 h. The thermoplastic elastomer was then filtered off, and the purified water (sample 2) was analysed.
  • thermoplastic elastomer In order to illustrate the effect of the thermoplastic elastomer, a contaminated water sample was maintained at 40 °C for 6 h in the absence of the thermoplastic elastomer. The water sample (sample 3) was then analysed.
  • Table 1 shows the concentrations, in ng/ml, of 17a-oestradiol, 17 -oestradiol, oestrone, and ethinyl oestradiol for the various water samples (samples 1 , 2, and 3).
  • Table 1 clearly shows the effect of the thermoplastic elastomer in terms of reducing impurities; a minimum decrease of 80 % from the initial values was obtained.

Abstract

The invention describes a method for removing organic impurities that comprise a steroid skeleton or one derived therefrom from water, whereby the contaminated water is contacted with a thermoplastic elastomer, whereby organic impurities are absorbed and/or adsorbed in the thermoplastic elastomer.

Description

METHOD FOR REMOVING ORGANIC IMPURITIES FROM WATER
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention is related to a method for removing organic impurities, in particular steroids, from water.
Prior Art
[0002] The overexploitation of natural resources and the widespread use of chemicals have resulted in the accumulation of pollution in our environment. Air, soil, and water pollution have been causing more and more concern in the last decades due to their adverse effects on the ecosystems and on human and animal health.
[0003] Various methods are known for treating contaminated water, including mechanical methods such as natural flotation, forced flotation, filtration, centrifugal gravity separation; electromagnetic methods such as ultrasound, electrolytic, and electrophoresis-based separation methods; other physical or chemical methods such as those based on adsorption, absorption, ion exchange, and coagulation, as well as biological separation methods using microorganisms.
[0004] In recent years, various studies have found the presence of small quantities of hormones and endocrine-disrupting substances, pharmaceuticals and products intended for personal use, in surface water, wastewater, and drinking water.
[0005] Of particular importance are the endocrine disruptors, which imitate the feminising effects of female sex hormones (oestrogens). Synthetic oestrogens are primarily present in contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs. Synthetic oestrogens are more stable than natural oestrogens, do not naturally biodegrade, and thus survive in the environment. [0006] The classical treatment methods for contaminated water frequently fall short of removing these recently discovered impurities, and new methods have been described in the technical and patent literature.
[0007] US 2007/0209999 describes a system for treating wastewater comprising a bioreactor that comprises a bacterial population and an adsorbent, specifically active charcoal in powder form. The examples in this application illustrate the removal of endocrine disruptors.
[0008] EP 1857541 B1 describes microorganisms that break down oestrogens and a method for breaking down these oestrogens in household wastewater and wastewater from stockbreeding facilities.
[0009] The removal of oestrogens from sewage using cyclodextrine polymers is described by Kyoko Oishi an Ayumi Moriuchi in "Science of The Total Environment, Volume 409, ch. 1, 1 December 2010, p. 112-115"
[0010] WO 2008/039360 describes a method for destroying pharmaceuticals and personal care products, e.g., oestrogens, antibiotics, and others, in aqueous solutions using ultrasound vibrations.
[0011] US 7,491 ,339 describes a method for the destruction of pollutants in water by ultraviolet irradiation, using photo-catalysis with titanium dioxide. It is noted that this method allows for the efficient destruction of β-oestradiol in low concentrations in drinking water and household water.
[0012] The characterisation of submicron MIP (molecularly imprinted polymer) and NIP (nonimprinted polymer) particles developed for the removal of 17β- oestradiol from water was described by Edward P.C. Lai, Zackery De Maleki, and Shuyi Wu in "Journal of Applied Polymer Science , Volume 116, ch. 3, 5 May 2010, pp. 1499-1508".
[0013] US 2009/131698 describes a method for removing oestrogens from urine, whereby the urine is brought into contact with a macroporous adsorption resin consisting of styrene, divinylbenzene, and an ester group structure originating from methyl methacrylate. The resin is a thermosetting resin due to the presence of divinylbenzene (branched via covalent bonds), and contains polar ester structures.
[0014] US 2009/312293 describes a method for removing and purifying hydrophilic water-soluble products such as oestrogens using a porous adsorption resin consisting of styrene and divinylbenzene, with bromo groups being present on styrene and/or divinylbenzene. The resin is a thermosetting resin due to the presence of divinylbenzene (branched via covalent bonds), and contains polar carbon-bromine bonds.
[0015] JP2000317305 describes a polymer composition for removing endocrine disruptors. The polymer composition includes a polymer (A), selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyvinyl acetate, polymethacrylate, polyamide, epoxy resin, and rubber, and a polymer (B) that includes cyclic amide structures and/or cyclic urethane structures and acts as an additive for the adsorption of endocrine disruptors. Objective of the Invention
[0016] The various methods described above are subject to a number of limitations or disadvantages relating to economic aspects, upscaling, the recycling of the materials used, and the resultant waste.
[0017] The primary objective of this invention is to provide a method that is not subject to the limitations or disadvantages of the prior-art methods.
[0018] The objective of this invention is to provide an economical method for removing specific organic impurities from water, whereby various impurities can be removed simultaneously and the material used in this method can be efficiently recycled.
Principal Features of the Invention
[0019] The invention concerns a method as described in the claims appended hereto.
[0020] The invention provides a new method for removing organic impurities, that comprise a steroid skeleton or one derived therefrom, from water.
[0021] The method is based on contacting the contaminated water with a thermoplastic elastomer, whereby organic impurities are absorbed and/or adsorbed into the thermoplastic elastomer. The method thus comprises the steps of:
a) adding thermoplastic elastomer to contaminated water;
b) absorbing and/or adsorbing the organic impurities in the thermoplastic elastomer. [0022] The thermoplastic elastomer may be a block copolymer, preferably including styrene-based rigid sequences, causing the impurity to be removed from the water and taken up into the elastomer. In an additional subsequent step, the thermoplastic elastomer containing the impurities may be freed of the impurities and be reused.
[0023] The thermoplastic elastomers containing organic impurities are then efficiently regenerated, e.g., by means of an extraction process.
[0024] In particular, the invention concerns a method in which the organic impurities comprise a 2, 3,4, 5,6,7,8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17-hexadecahydro-1 H- cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene skeleton or a skeleton derived therefrom that:
may comprise one or more unsaturated double bonds,
may comprise one or more methyl, hydroxyl, aldehyde, amine, amide (- NH-CO-R), or oxygen substituents, and
in position 17, comprises substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, oxygen, a hydrocarbon substituent and an aromatic substituent, wherein :
the hydrocarbon substituent
- comprises between 1 and 10 carbon atoms,
- may comprise one or more unsaturated double and/or triple bonds,
- may comprise one or more heteroatoms, and
- may form a bond with position 16;
the aromatic substituent
- comprises between 1 and 10 carbon atoms,
- may comprise one or more substituents, and
- may comprise one or more heteroatoms.
[0025] In one embodiment, the organic impurities comprise a
2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,17-hexadecahydro-1 H- cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene skeleton that:
- comprises one or more unsaturated bonds,
- comprises one or more methyl substituents,
- comprises one or more hydroxyl groups, and
- in position 17, comprises substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, oxygen (0=, for forming a keto moiety), C1-C10 aliphatic hydrocarbon substituents, C1-C10 unsaturated hydrocarbon substituents comprising one or more unsaturated double and/or triple bonds, and a heteroaromatic.
[0026] According to one embodiment, the organic impurity is a natural or synthetic hormone or hormone analogue.
[0027] According to one embodiment, the organic impurity is an endocrine disruptor.
[0028] According to one embodiment, the thermoplastic elastomer is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon that is free of heteroatoms.
[0029] According to one embodiment, the thermoplastic elastomer is a block copolymer comprising rigid sequences obtained by polymerising monovinyl arenes and soft sequences obtained by polymerising alkylenes or copolymerising monovinyl arenes and alkylenes.
[0030] According to one embodiment, the thermoplastic elastomer comprises between 10 and 60 wt. %, preferably between 15 and 50 wt. %, more preferably between 20 and 40 wt. % of rigid sequences.
[0031] According to one embodiment, the thermoplastic elastomer is a block copolymer selected from the group of styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene- isoprene-styrene, styrene-isobutylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene.
[0032] According to one embodiment, the method according to the invention comprises the following steps:
a) adding thermoplastic elastomer to a stationary quantity of contaminated water;
b) absorbing and/or adsorbing the organic impurities in the thermoplastic elastomer.
[0033] According to one embodiment, in step a), between 10"7 and 100 parts, preferably between 10"5 and 80 parts, more preferably between 10"3 and 60 parts, or even between 10~1 and 50 parts thermoplastic elastomer are added per 100 parts water.
[0034] According to one embodiment, step b) takes place over a period of between 1 s and 24 h, preferably between 10 s and 10 h, more preferably between 20 s and 6 h. [0035] According to one embodiment, the contaminated water is pumped through one or more containers that are fully or partially filled with thermoplastic elastomer, whereby several reactors are arranged in parallel and/or in series, and whereby the contaminated water preferably flows upwards through the container(s).
[0036] According to one embodiment, the flow rate of contaminated water through the container(s) is between 10 and 100,000 parts/h, preferably between 20 and 75,000 parts/h, and more preferably between 30 and 50,000 parts/h, or even between 50 and 20,000 parts/h for a total of 100 parts thermoplastic elastomer in the container(s).
[0037] According to one embodiment, the method comprises an additional step in which the thermoplastic elastomer containing impurities is separated and regenerated, preferably by means of an extraction process.
[0038] The invention also concerns the use of the method according to the invention for purifying household water, industrial wastewater, surface water, drinking water, and water treatment facility effluent.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0039] This present invention concerns a method for removing organic impurities from water in which a thermoplastic elastomer is brought into contact with the contaminated water.
[0040] 'Contaminated water' refers in the context of this invention preferably to contaminated surface water, drinking water, household and industrial wastewater, and water treatment facility effluent, whereby the concentration of organic impurity is 50 g/l is or less, preferably 10 g/l or less, preferably 1 g/l or less, preferably 500 mg/l or less, preferably 100 mg/l or less, preferably 1 mg/l or less, preferably 500 pg/l or less, preferably 100 pg/l or less, preferably 1 pg/l or less, preferably 500 ng/l or less, preferably 100 ng/l, preferably 10 ng/l or less, or even 1 ng/l or less.
[0041] Preferably, the concentration of organic impurities is at least 1 pg/l, preferably at least 10 pg/l, preferably at least 100 pg/l, preferably at least 1 ng/l, preferably at least 10 ng/l, preferably at least 100 ng/l, preferably at least 1 9 Ι, preferably at least 10 pg/l, preferably at least 100 pg/l, preferably at least 1 mg/l, preferably at least 10 mg/l, preferably at least 100 mg/l, preferably at least 1 g/10, preferably at least 10 g/l.
[0042] Organic impurity' refers in the context of this invention to the undesired presence of one or more natural or synthetic substances comprising a steroid skeleton or a skeleton derived therefrom. Preferably, this refers to substances having a 2, 3,4, 5,6,7,8, 9,10,1 1 ,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17-hexadecahydro-1 H- cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene skeleton or a skeleton derived therefrom that may comprise one or more unsaturated double bonds, that may comprise one or more methyl, hydroxyl, aldehyde, amine, amide (-NH-CO-R), or oxygen (0= to form a keto moiety or -O- to form an oxirane structure) substituents, and that, specifically in position 17, comprises substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, oxygen, a hydrocarbon substituent comprising between 1 and 10 carbon atoms, which may comprise one or more unsaturated bonds and/or 1 or more heteroatoms, and which may form a bond with position 16 and an aromatic substituent comprising between 1 and 10 carbon atoms, and which may comprise one or more heteroatoms and/or substituents.
[0043] In the context of the invention, the steroidal substances comprise the group consisting of secosteroids, norsteroids, and homosteroids, and comprise natural or synthetic hormones, comprising glucocorticoids, mineral corticoids, androgens, oestrogens, progestogens, and D vitamins.
[0044] The organic impurities specifically referred to by this invention preferably comprise a 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, 1 1 ,12,13,14, 15,16,17-hexadecahydro-1 H- cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene skeleton comprising one or more unsaturated double bonds, one or more methyl substituents, one or more hydroxyl groups, and, in position 17, comprises substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, oxygen (O=, for forming a keto moiety), a saturated C1-C10 hydrocarbon substituent, an unsaturated C1-C10 hydrocarbon substituent comprising one or more double and/or triple bonds, and a heteroaromatic.
[0045] Specific examples of organic impurities in this invention are modified steroids, e.g., cholesterol, e.g., present in cosmetics and personal care products, abiraterone, an antiandrogen, and endocrine disruptors such as oestrogens including oestriol, oestradiol, oestrone, and ethinyl oestradiol. [0046] The thermoplastic polymers used according to the invention are physically crosslinked polymers, e.g., via Van der Waals forces, and are free of crosslinking by means of covalent bonds.
[0047] According to one embodiment, the thermoplastic elastomer used in the invention is a block copolymer, preferably a tri-block copolymer consisting of rigid and soft sequences, whereby the rigid sequences are obtained by polymerising monovinylarene, and whereby the soft sequences are obtained by polymerising alkylenes or copolymerising alkylenes and monovinylarene. This means that the thermoplastic elastomers used in this embodiment are saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons free of heteroatoms. They are free of heteroatoms in particular:
- in the polymer chains, e.g., ether, urethane, amide, carbonate, or ester structures,
- in substituents of the polymer chains, e.g., ester, nitrile, amide, or urethane structures,
- as substituents of the polymer chains such as chloro, bromo, or fluoro substituents.
Thus, polar covalent bonds are not present in the polymer chains and/or in substituents on the polymer chains. The thermoplastic elastomers used in this embodiment are free of polar groups.
[0048] Without being bound to any particular theory, it is believed that the polymer chains are physically crosslinked by association of the rigid polyvinylarene sequences, whereby the organic impurity is taken up into the soft sequences.
[0049] The glass transition temperature of the soft sequences should be low enough that, during the purification process, they are sufficiently mobile to absorb and/or adsorb the impurities. On the other hand, the glass transition temperature of the rigid sequences should be high enough that the thermoplastic elastomers do not cake together during the purification process.
[0050] In the event that the alkylene is a conjugated diene, an unsaturated thermoplastic elastomer is obtained; in the event that the alkylene is a monoalkene, a saturated thermoplastic elastomer is obtained.
[0051] The monovinylarene is preferably selected from the group consisting of styrene, a-methyl styrene, and vinyl toluene. The monovinylarene is preferably styrene.
[0052] The alkylene is preferably selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, butylene, isobutylene, pentene, hexene, octene, butadiene, isoprene, 2,3-dimethyl-1 ,3-butadiene, pyperylene, 3-butyl-1 ,3-octadiene, and phenyl- 1 ,3-butadiene. The alkylene is preferably butadiene or isoprene, to form an unsaturated thermoplastic elastomer, and ethylene, propylene, or butylene to form a saturated thermoplastic elastomer.
[0053] The block copolymers to be used in the method according to the invention are preferably selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene- styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-isobutylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene- butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-ethylene- propylene-styrene.
[0054] The thermoplastic elastomers preferably used in the method according to the present invention are prepared as described in for example WO 1995/35335 or WO 1997/40079, and may be prepared by anionic polymerisation in an apolar solvent with addition of a polar cosolvent or a potassium salt.
[0055] The thermoplastic elastomer of the present invention includes between 10 and 60 wt. %, preferably between 15 and 50 wt. %, more preferably between 20 and 40 wt. % of rigid sequences.
[0056] The thermoplastic elastomers preferably used in the method of the invention are characterised by a melt flow rate (MFR) (200 °C/5 kg) between 2 and 50 g/10 min, preferably between 5 and 20 g/10 min.
[0057] The thermoplastic elastomers preferably used in the method of the present invention are block copolymers, whereby the soft sequence has a molecular weight between 2000 and 250,000 g/mole, and a glass transition temperature as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of 25 °C or less, and whereby the rigid sequence has a molecular weight of between 1000 and 200,000 g/mole and a glass transition temperature higher than 25 °C.
[0058] The soft sequences preferably have a glass transition temperature as determined by DSC between 25 and -110°C, preferably between 5 and -100°C, and more preferably between -10 and -90°C, or even between -20 and -90°C.
[0059] Of course, the thermoplastic elastomers used in the method of the invention may comprise other components and/or additives such as thermoplastic homo- and/or copolymers, thermosetting polymers, fillers, wetting agents, surfactants, foaming agents, anti-foaming agents, pigments, colorants, antistatic agents, stabilisers, antioxidants, flow improvers, and flame retardants. [0060] The density of the thermoplastic elastomer to be used in the method of the invention is between 0.5 and 1.5 g/cm3 and preferably between 0.8 and 1.3 g/cm3.
[0061] The thermoplastic elastomer is preferably used in granulate, tube, or powder form, but may generally be in any form.
[0062] In the method of the present invention, the contaminated water is brought into contact with the thermoplastic elastomer, whereby organic impurities are absorbed and/or adsorbed into the thermoplastic elastomer. This absorption and/or adsorption into thermoplastic elastomers itself is not known from the prior art. The contaminated water may be contacted with the thermoplastic elastomer either in a stationary fashion, whereby a certain amount of elastomer is added to the stationary quantity of contaminated water, or a non-stationary fashion, whereby the water is pumped at a certain flow rate through one or more containers, having an inlet and an outlet, that are arranged serially or in parallel and filled with thermoplastic elastomer. Both the stationary and non-stationary variant of the method comprise the following steps:
a) adding thermoplastic elastomer to contaminated water;
b) absorbing and/or adsorbing the organic impurities in the thermoplastic elastomer.
[0063] The method according to the present invention allows for a decrease in the concentration of organic impurities of 50% or more, preferably 60% or more, 70% or more, 80% or more, 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or 99.9% or more compared to the initial concentration.
[0064] The method according to the present invention allows to obtain purified water with a concentration of residual organic impurities of 10 g/l or less, preferably 1 g/l or less, more preferably 500 mg/l or less, more preferably 100 mg/l or less, more preferably 1 mg/l or less, more preferably 500 pg/l or less, more preferably 100 pg/l or less, more preferably 1 pg/l or less, more preferably 500 ng/l or less, more preferably 100 ng/l, more preferably 10 ng/l or less, more preferably 1 ng/l or less, more preferably 500 pg/l or less, more preferably 100 pg/l or less, more preferably 10 pg/l or less, more preferably 1 pg/l or less.
[0065] In one embodiment of the stationary method, between 10"7 en 100 g, preferably between 10"5 and 80 g, more preferably between 10"3 and 60 g, or even between 10~1 and 50 g of the thermoplastic elastomer is added to 100 g contaminated water, depending on the degree of contamination and the type of impurities.
[0066] The contaminated water is preferably between 0 and 25 °C, but, if necessary, may be heated. The thermoplastic elastomer remains in contact with the contaminated water for a period comprised between 1 s and 24 h, preferably between 10 s and 10 h, depending on the degree of contamination and the type of impurities. Stirring may be performed during this period.
[0067] Then, the thermoplastic elastomer is separated from the water, e.g., by means of filtration. The water may be tested for any remaining impurities using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry.
[0068] The thermoplastic elastomer may be freed of the acquired impurities it , e.g., by means of Soxhlet-type extraction using an apolar solvent such as (cyclo)hexane, isooctane, toluene, or xylene. After the extraction, the thermoplastic elastomer is dried, e.g., in a convection oven, at a temperature of e.g., 50 °C, possibly at reduced pressure.
[0069] The dried granules may be reused in a subsequent water purification process.
[0070] In the non-stationary method, one or more containers filled with thermoplastic elastomer are used, whereby the contaminated water flows through the elastomer, e.g., upward through the one or more containers, whereby the flow rate of the water, according to one embodiment, is between 10 and 100,000 parts/h, preferably between 20 and 75,000 parts/h, more preferably between 30 and 150,000 parts/h, or even between 50 and 20,000 parts/h, depending on the degree of contamination and the type of impurities, for one or more containers containing a total of 100 parts thermoplastic elastomer.
[0071] The contaminated water flowing through the one or more containers is preferably at a temperature between 0 and 25 °C, but, if necessary, may be heated in advance, whereby the one or more containers may be adiabatically sealed.
[0072] An analysis of the water flowing out allows to determine when the one or more containers should be replaced; thereafter, the thermoplastic elastomer of the one or more replaced containers may be recycled as described above. [0073] In both the stationary and non-stationary method, salt may be added to the contaminated water in order to reduce the solubility of certain impurities in the water and to increase the capacity of the thermoplastic elastomer to receive impurities.
[0074] To this end, e.g., sodium chloride may be added to the contaminated water in order to obtain a concentration of between 100 and 350 g salt per litre of water.
Examples
[0075] The following example is provided to illustrate the invention and should in no way be construed as a limitation thereof.
Example 1 : Synthesis of a thermoplastic elastomer based on styrene and butadiene.
[0076] A styrene-butadiene/styrene-styrene tri-block copolymer was prepared according to a method described in WO 1997/40079.
[0077] A 50 I reactor was loaded with 22.8 I dry cyclohexane and 1638 g dry styrene and brought to a temperature of 40°C, whereby the polymerisation is initiated by adding 87.3 mmol sec-butyllithium (12 wt. % in dry cyclohexane) and 2.36 mmol potassium tert- amylate (5 wt. % in dry cyclohexane). The reaction mixture was stirred for 30 min, maintaining a temperature of 68 °C.
[0078] The reaction mixture was then cooled to 50 °C, and 1250 g butadiene and 1 126 g styrene were simultaneously added. The temperature increased to 74 °C. After a polymerisation time of 13 min, the resultant reaction mixture was cooled down to 55 °C, and a second amount consisting of 1250 g butadiene and 1 126 g styrene was added. The temperature increased to 76°C. After a polymerisation time of 13 min, the mixture was cooled down to 550°C, and a third amount consisting of 1250 g butadiene and 1 126 g styrene was added, whereby the temperature increased to 75 °C. After 17 min, 1638 g styrene was added at a temperature of 70 °C, whereby the temperature increased to 80 °C.
[0079] 40 min after the addition of the styrene, the polymerisation was terminated by adding 200 mmol isopropanol, acidified by the addition of carbon dioxide and water and stabilised by adding 35 g Irganox® 3052 and 80 g Weston® TNPP. Then, the polymer was freed of solvent and transformed into granulate form by means of an extruder. [0080] The thermoplastic elastomer was characterised by an average molecular weight of 140,000 g/mol and 2 glass transition temperatures, whereby the first glass transition temperature was between -25 and -55 °C, and the second glass transition temperature was between 60 and 100 °C.
[0081] The thermoplastic elastomer included 31.5 wt. % polystyrene block.
Example 2: Purification of an industrial wastewater sample
[0082] An industrial wastewater sample (sample 1) was collected at the outlet and analysed for 17ct-oestradiol, 17 -oestradiol, oestrone, and ethinyl oestradiol.
100 g of the thermoplastic elastomer of example 1 were added to a container containing 200 g of contaminated water, whereby the contents were maintained at 40 °C for 6 h. The thermoplastic elastomer was then filtered off, and the purified water (sample 2) was analysed.
[0083] In order to illustrate the effect of the thermoplastic elastomer, a contaminated water sample was maintained at 40 °C for 6 h in the absence of the thermoplastic elastomer. The water sample (sample 3) was then analysed.
Table 1 shows the concentrations, in ng/ml, of 17a-oestradiol, 17 -oestradiol, oestrone, and ethinyl oestradiol for the various water samples (samples 1 , 2, and 3).
Figure imgf000014_0001
Table 1
[0084] Table 1 clearly shows the effect of the thermoplastic elastomer in terms of reducing impurities; a minimum decrease of 80 % from the initial values was obtained.

Claims

Claims
1 . Method for removing organic impurities from water, said impurities comprising a steroid skeleton or a skeleton derived therefrom, which comprises contacting the contaminated water with a thermoplastic elastomer.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the organic impurities comprise a 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14,15,16,17-hexadecahydro-1 H- cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene skeleton or a skeleton derived therefrom that: - may comprise one or more unsaturated double bonds,
may comprise one or more methyl, hydroxyl, aldehyde, amine, amide (- NH-CO-R), or oxygen substituents, and
in position 17, comprises substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, oxygen, a hydrocarbon substituent and an aromatic substituent, wherein :
the hydrocarbon substituent
- comprises between 1 and 10 carbon atoms,
- may comprise one or more unsaturated double and/or triple bonds,
- may comprise one or more heteroatoms, and
- may form a bond with position 16;
the aromatic substituent
- comprises between 1 and 10 carbon atoms,
- may comprise one or more substituents, and
- may comprise one or more heteroatoms.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the organic impurities comprise a 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, 10,1 1 , 12,13,14, 15, 16,17-hexadecahydro-1 H- cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene skeleton that:
- comprises one or more unsaturated bonds,
- comprises one or more methyl substituents,
- comprises one or more hydroxyl groups, and
- in position 17, comprises substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, oxygen (O=, for forming a keto moiety), C1-C10 aliphatic hydrocarbon substituents, C1-C10 unsaturated hydrocarbon substituents comprising one or more unsaturated double and/or triple bonds, and a heteroaromatic.
4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the organic impurity is a natural or synthetic hormone or hormone analogue.
5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the organic impurity is an endocrine disruptor.
6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon that is free of heteroatoms.
7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is a block copolymer comprising rigid sequences obtained by polymerising monovinyl arenes and soft sequences obtained by polymerising alkylenes or copolymerising monovinyl arenes and alkylenes.
8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises between 10 and 60 wt. %, preferably between 15 and 50 wt. %, more preferably between 20 and 40 wt. % of rigid sequences.
9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is a block copolymer selected from the group of styrene-butadiene- styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-isobutylene-styrene, styrene- ethylene-butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene, styrene- ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene.
10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the following steps:
a) adding thermoplastic elastomer to a stationary quantity of contaminated water; b) absorbing and/or adsorbing the organic impurities in the thermoplastic elastomer.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein , in step a), between 10-7 and 100 parts, preferably between 10~5 and 80 parts, more preferably between 103 and 60 parts, or even between 10"1 and 50 parts thermoplastic elastomer are added per 100 parts water.
12. The method according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein step b) takes place over a period of between 1 s and 24 h, preferably between 10 s and 10 h, more preferably between 20 s and 6 h.
13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the contaminated water is pumped through one or more containers that are fully or partially filled with thermoplastic elastomer, whereby several reactors are arranged in parallel and/or in series, and whereby the contaminated water preferably flows upwards through the container(s).
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the flow rate of contaminated water through the container(s) is between 10 and 100,000 parts/h, preferably between 20 and 75,000 parts/h, and more preferably between 30 and 50,000 parts/h, or even between 50 and 20,000 parts/h for a total of 100 parts thermoplastic elastomer in the container(s).
15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, comprising an additional step in which the thermoplastic elastomer containing impurities is separated and regenerated, preferably by means of an extraction process.
16. Use of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15 for purifying household water, industrial wastewater, surface water, drinking water, and water treatment facility effluent.
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