Mobil, PNNL Develop Environmental 'Super Sponge'.

FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 20, 1998--The combined efforts of researchers from Mobil Technology Company (MTC) and the U. S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have produced a remarkable new material that serves as a microscopic "super sponge" to soak up specific toxic metals and render contaminated water fit for drinking in seconds.

Called Self-Assembled Monolayers on Mesoporous Supports (SAMMS), the new concept developed by PNNL involves inserting specialized molecules that attract toxic heavy metals into the pores of a ceramic material created by Mobil researchers. When tainted water comes into contact with the SAMMS, the specialized molecules latch on to the heavy metal ions.

The ceramic support is a unique mesoporous (large pore) material called MCM-41, synthesized in 1991 by catalyst scientists at MTC, a leader in catalysis research that has revolutionized the petroleum refining and petrochemicals industries.

MCM-41 was made available to national laboratories and universities for additional research into a number of prospective applications. PNNL researchers created SAMMS by coating the internal pores of the honeycomb-like MCM-41 with organic material that has an affinity for mercury.

By systematically modifying the pore size of the MCM-41 and the functionalized organic material used to coat it, PNNL scientists have discovered that other toxic heavy metal molecules such as lead, copper, silver, nickel, cadmium or plutonium can be targeted.

The MCM-41 is so porous that two teaspoons of SAMMS powder has the internal surface area the size of an entire football field, so a small amount of the SAMMS can remove large volumes of contaminants.

In fact, a pound of SAMMS has the contaminant recovery capacity of 100 pounds of the best available competing technology (ion exchange resins) and 27,000 pounds of the most commonly used alternative (activated carbon).

At the same time, the pores of the material are small enough to prevent bacteria from entering the SAMMS to convert the insoluble mercury into more toxic and mobile methyl-mercury. The material, once loaded with toxic metals, generates no secondary waste and can be safely disposed because of its chemical and biological stability.

"Although originally developed to remove mercury from water, SAMMS has many potential applications in waste-treatment, petroleum, petrochemical and other industries," said MTC President Michael P. Ramage. "SAMMS is a simpler, more cost-effective approach to meeting stringent water standards than traditional metals separation, remediation and recovery techniques."

MTC and PNNL scientists are now working together to scale up the initial SAMMS formulation for commercialization and then will begin developing formulations designed for absorb other heavy metal toxins.

Mobil Technology Company provides research, development, engineering, technical services and capital project management to Mobil's business units and to Mobil partnerships worldwide.

PNNL is one of the Energy Department's nine multi-program laboratories, conducting basic and applied research to solve problems in environmental, energy, health and national security areas. The laboratory has been operated by Battelle of Columbus, Ohio since 1965.

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