Apparatus and process for extracting and recovering metals from aqueous solutions

A system for removing at least one metal dissolved or suspended in an aqueous solution, the system comprising:

• a) a treatment chamber, the treatment chamber further comprising:
• i) a chamber body, the chamber body comprising an insulated inner electrode disposed within an outer electrode such that a space is defined between the inner electrode and the outer electrode;
• ii) an inlet pipe, the inlet pipe positioned upstream of the chamber body, wherethrough the aqueous solution enters the chamber body;
• iii) an outlet pipe, the outlet pipe positioned downstream of the chamber body, wherethrough the aqueous solution exits the chamber body;
• b) an AC voltage source applied across the inner electrode and the outer electrode;
• c) an electric conductor applying a trickle current to the aqueous solution;
• and
• d) a filter, the filter positioned downstream of, and connected to the outlet pipe, and the filter further comprising a discharge pipe.

A process for removing at least one metal dissolved or suspended in an aqueous solution, the process comprising:

• a) providing an inner electrode and an outer electrode disposed within a chamber, positioned such that the aqueous solution may flow between the inner electrode and the outer electrode, whereby the first electrode further comprises a layer of insulation;
• b) providing a voltage source across the inner electrode and the outer electrode;
• c) providing an electric conductor capable of applying a trickle current directly to the aqueous solution;
• d) providing a filter medium positioned downstream from, and in fluid communication with the chamber;
• and
• e) passing the aqueous solution between the inner electrode and the outer electrode at a flow rate that is sufficiently low enough to define a residence time of the aqueous solution within the chamber to sufficiently charge the dissolved or suspended metal, and then passing the aqueous solution through the filter medium.

A process for adsorbing at least one metal dissolved or suspended in an aqueous solution, the process comprising:

• a) providing an inner electrode and an outer electrode disposed within a chamber, positioned such that the aqueous solution may flow between the inner electrode and the outer electrode, whereby the first electrode further comprises a layer of insulation;
• b) providing a voltage source across the inner electrode and the outer electrode, whereby the voltage source supplies an AC voltage across the inner electrode and the outer electrode ranging from between about 500 to about 6,000 volts;
• c) providing an electric conductor capable of applying a trickle current directly to the aqueous solution, whereby the electric conductor supplies a trickle current directly to the aqueous solution ranging from about between about 0.5 to 3.0 milliamps that is further phase-coordinated with the Ac voltage;
• d) providing a filter medium positioned downstream from, and in fluid communication with the chamber, whereby the filter medium is capable of extracting the dissolved or suspended metal from the aqueous solution through adsorption;
• and
• e) passing the aqueous solution between the inner electrode and the outer electrode at a flow rate that is sufficiently low enough to define a residence time of the aqueous solution within the chamber to sufficiently charge the dissolved or suspended metal, and then passing the aqueous solution through the filter medium.

Water treatment apparatus for removing a metal from an aqueous solution, comprising:

• (a) a first electrode and a second electrode positioned a distance apart from each other in a manner that can accommodate a flow of the aqueous solution between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• (b) an electric insulation material positioned between at least the first electrode and an aqueous solution in a manner that prevents current flow between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• (c) an electric conductor positioned between the insulation material and the second electrode in a manner that exposes the electric conductor to an aqueous solution following between the first electrode and second electrode;
• (d) a high voltage source connected to the first electrode or to the second electrode or both in a manner that creates a high voltage electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• (e) a trickle current source connected to the electric conductor in such a manner that a trickle current will flow through an aqueous solution in the high voltage electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• and
• (f) at least one filter medium positioned downstream from the first electrode and second electrode.

Water treatment apparatus for removing a metal from an aqueous solution, comprising:

• (a) a first electrode and a second electrode positioned a distance apart from each other in a manner that can accommodate a flow of the aqueous solution between the first electrode and the second electrode, at least one of these electrodes being a semiconductor;
• (b) a high voltage source connected at least to the semiconductor electrode in a manner that creates a high voltage electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode and that allows a trickle current to flow through an aqueous solution in the high voltage electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• and
• (c) at least one filter medium positioned downstream from the first electrode and second electrode.