System for Removal of Metals from Aqueous Solutions

A system for the removal of pollutants from an aqueous solution comprising a contactor adapted for contacting an aqueous solution containing at least one target pollutant with a sorbent, wherein the sorbent removes at least a portion of the target pollutant from the aqueous stream, said sorbent comprising a metal oxide formed by the process of;

• a. providing a metal containing solution;
• b. providing a aqueous oxidizing solution, the oxidizing solution being prepared to have Eh and pH values within a polyatomic ion stability area, metal ion stability area, a metal oxide stability area, or a co-precipitation stability area or to move solution conditions initially into the polyatomic ion stability area, metal ion stability area, metal oxide stability area, or co-precipitation stability area when contacted with the metal containing solution;
• c. feeding the metal containing solution and the aqueous oxidizing solution into at least one continuous flow reactor, the solutions being fed either separately into the continuous flow reactor where they mix to form a combined mixed processing solution or being premixed and fed as a combined mixed processing solution;
• d. heating the combined mixed processing solution to process temperature;
• e. monitoring and adjusting combined mixed processing solution temperature, Eh value, pH value, molarity, and pressure within the continuous flow reactor so as to rapidly and adaptively move combined mixed processing solution conditions into and maintain processing solution conditions within the metal oxide stability area or co-precipitation stability area;
• and
• f. maintaining combined mixed processing solution conditions within the metal oxide stability area or co-precipitation stability area as the combined mixed processing solution travels through the continuous flow reactor so as to produce metal oxides with high loading capacities and/or high average oxidation states.