Open-Framework Oxysulfide Based on the Supertetrahedral [In₄Sn₁₆O₁₀S₃₄]^12– Cluster and Efficient Sequestration of Heavy Metals

The new ion-exchange oxy-sulfide material has a three-dimensional open framework comprising the pseudo-T4 supertetrahedral [In4Sn16O10S34]12– cluster. This material has large pores and is a fast ion exchanger. It exhibits high selectivity in sequestering heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions including solutions containing heavy concentrations of sodium, calcium, ammonium, magnesium, zinc, carbonate, phosphate, and acetate ions. Moreover, the ion-exchange efficiency in competitive ion-exchange experiments involving mixtures of metal ions is significantly higher than for solutions of single metal ions.