Three-dimensional flow-through electrode and electrochemical cell

A system for recovering a metal from an ore, comprising:

• a reaction chamber containing ore;
• a first manifold operatively associated with said reaction chamber operable to deliver a leaching solution to a lower portion of said reaction chamber;
• a second manifold operatively associated with said reaction chamber operable to remove a pregnant solution from an upper portion of said reaction chamber;
• and
• an electrochemical cell operatively associated with said second manifold and operable to facilitate a chemical reaction on said pregnant solution;
• wherein said leaching solution is operable to leach a desired metal from said ore to become said pregnant solution and said chemical reaction is operable to remove at least a portion of said desired metal from said pregnant solution.

A method for treating water, comprising:

• providing an electrochemical cell having a first flow-through electrode and a second flow though electrode, said first and second flow-through electrodes spaced apart to provide an inter-electrode space;
• applying a voltage between said first flow-through electrode and said second flow-through electrode to create a positively charged first flow-through electrode and a negatively charged second flow-through electrode;
• feeding untreated water into said inter-electrode space;
• and
• collecting treated water which has passed through said second flow-through electrode.