Agency:

Agricultural Research Service

March 31, 1998

The invention is a new positively charged ion exchange resin that is produced by mixing phytic acid with a hydroxyl-containing material. Phytic acid is commonly found as a waste product of corn starch production. The hydroxyl-containing materials of the invention are selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxy polymers, gluconic acid and ß-cyclodextrin. The mixture is heated at a sufficient temperature for an adequate time period to form a cation exchange resin. Because of the high density of phosphates, the modified starch polymer offers unique properties due to its selectivity for cations. The use of ion exchangers of the invention are expected to increase in the foreseeable future. Resins for municipal water treatment, food and pharmaceutical product purification, process cleanup and metal recycling annually will require about 130 million pounds of anion and cation exchangers within a few years. The invention's capacity of ion exchange resin is the most important attribute for many of these applications.

USDA, ARS, NCAUR

1815 N. University Street

Peoria, IL 61604

(309) 681-6320 / (309) 681-6686 (fax)

Industry Keywords:

environmental, pollution, cation, resins, polymers, polysaccharides, paper, synthetic, phytic acid, gluconic acid, phosphates, municipal water treatment, pharmaceutical