Method of refining and recovering barium sulfate from contaminated water sources

A method of recovering barium sulfate from a contaminated water source comprising barium cation, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a source of sulfate ion;
• (b) combining together said contaminated water source and said source of sulfate ion, thereby forming a modified contaminated water source;
• (c) forming precipitated barium sulfate within said modified contaminated water source, thereby forming a further modified contaminated water source;
• (d) isolating precipitated barium sulfate from said further modified contaminated water source, thereby forming isolated precipitated barium sulfate;
• (e) dewatering the isolated precipitated barium sulfate, thereby forming a low-moisture precipitated barium sulfate;
• (f) combining said low-moisture precipitated barium sulfate with clean water, thereby forming a slurry comprising precipitated barium sulfate;
• (g) subjecting said slurry comprising precipitated barium sulfate to density separation, thereby forming a refined barium sulfate having a density of at least 4.10 g/ml, and a content of calcium ion of less than or equal to 250 mg/Kg;
• and
• (h) subjecting the refined barium sulfate to particle size reduction and/or particle size classification, thereby forming a recovered barium sulfate.