Electrodeposition recovery method for metals in polymer chelates

A process for the recovery of at least one metal ion or complex species from the affinity adsorbent/polymeric chelating agent stream of the affinity dialysis system comprising the steps of:

• circulating said affinity adsorbent/polymeric chelating agent stream through the electrolytic recovery cell, said polymeric chelating agent being loaded with metal ions or complexes of said species to be recovered, said species selected from the group consisting of Cr, CrO.sub.4.sup.2 -, Pb, Ir, Ni, Cu, Zr, Ru, Pt, Pd, Ag, cd, Sn, [Ni(CN).sub.5 ]3-, Na.sub.2 Sn(OH).sub.6, and K.sub.2 Sn(OH).sub.6 ;
• reducing said metal ions or complexes from said polymeric chelating agent by application of voltage and current through said stream of loaded polymeric chelating agent;
• depositing said metal species from said stream at the cathode of said electrolytic recovery cell such that a bulk amount of said species is recovered;
• and
• recycling said affinity adsorbent/polymeric chelating agent stream, in a lean state, to the extraction stage of said affinity dialysis system.