Removal of contaminants and recovery of metals from waste solutions

A method for removal of at least one contaminant from a liquid containing same, said method comprising:

• introducing said liquid containing said contaminant into a first of a plurality of liquid treatment containers;
• contacting said liquid in said first liquid treatment container with a first quantity of a solid contaminant recovery medium for removing said contaminant from aid liquid in a liquid-medium suspension for a period of time sufficient to achieve a desired efficiency of recovery of said contaminant;
• cycling said liquid from said first liquid treatment container sequentially through each of said plurality of liquid treatment containers to a final liquid treatment container while contacting said liquid in each of said liquid treatment containers with additional quantities of said medium in liquid-medium suspension for period of time sufficient to achieve said desired efficiency of recovery in each of said liquid treatment containers;
• cycling at least a portion of said medium from said final liquid treatment container through said plurality of liquid treatment containers to said first liquid treatment container in a direction countercurrent to flow of said liquid so as to maintain essentially a constant medium concentration in each of said liquid treatment containers, said medium being substantially separated from liquid prior to cycling from one container to another container;
• transferring at least a portion of said medium from said first liquid treatment container into a medium recycling means comprising a plurality of medium recovery containers wherein said medium is treated with a contaminant recovery liquid for regenerating said medium;
• cycling said medium from a first medium recovery container sequentially through said plurality of medium recovery containers to a final medium recovery container;
• cycling said contaminant recovery liquid from said final medium recovery container through said plurality of medium recovery containers to said first medium recovery container in a direction countercurrent to flow of said medium through said medium recycling means, whereby said medium is at least partially regenerated;
• and
• reintroducing at least a portion of said at least partially regenerated medium from said final medium recovery container into said final liquid treatment container.