Process for treating aqueous solutions containing industrial wastes

A process for reducing the concentration of water soluble metal ions in an aqueous solution containing the same, said process comprising the steps of:

• providing an aqueous solution having contained therein a concentration of water soluble metal ions;
• providing a porous matrix suitable for maintaining a population of aerobic metal oxidizing bacteria, said porous matrix being provided under aerobic conditions;
• inoculating said porous matrix with a population of aerobic metal oxidizing bacteria from the genus Metallogenium, wherein said bacteria is capable of metabolizing said water soluble metal ions in said aqueous solution into water insoluble metal oxides;
• and
• passing said aqueous solution through said porous matrix in a continuous fashion so as to allow said bacteria to metabolize said metal ions in said aqueous solution into water insoluble metal oxides which are substantially retained on said porous matrix, thereby resulting in a reduction in the concentration of said water soluble metal ions in said aqueous solution.

A process for reducing the concentration of water soluble metal ions in a body of water containing the same, said process comprising the steps of:

• constructing a treatment zone in the form of a basin having an inlet port through which water from said body of water may flow into said basin and an outlet port through which water contained in said basin may flow out of said basin, said inlet port and said outlet port being located and configured so as to allow said water to flow substantially throughout the entirety of said basin at a controlled rate;
• filling said treatment zone with a porous matrix suitable for maintaining a population of aerobic metal oxidizing bacteria thereon;
• inoculating said porous matrix with a population of aerobic metal oxidizing bacteria from the genus Metallogenium, wherein said bacteria is capable of metabolizing said water soluble metal ions in said body of water into water insoluble metal oxides;
• and
• allowing water from said body of water to flow through said treatment zone, and hence through said porous matrix inoculated with said aerobic metal oxidizing bacteria from the genus Metallogenium, in a continuous fashion at said controlled rate so as to allow said bacteria to metabolize said water soluble metal ions in said flowing water into water insoluble metal oxides, thereby resulting in an overall decrease in the concentration of said water soluble metal ions in water flowing out of said treatment zone as compared to water flowing into said treatment zone.