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US 6,673,321 B2Granted
Apparatus and process for extracting and recovering metals from aqueous solutions
AssigneeHydro-Met of Colorado, Inc.
InventorsEdward C. Weakly, Joseph N. Ignat, Henry L. DiCamillo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and process for recovering metals from aqueous solutions by passing an aqueous solution, which contains dissolved metals, into a space between two elongated electrodes of a treatment chamber. A very high voltage electric field is created in the treatment chamber and is accompanied by a very small trickle current charge to enhance adsorption, polarization, ion exchange or to otherwise agglomerate the dissolved metal, which is then recovered by filtering, adsorbing, exchanging or otherwise separating the metal from the water.
Claims27
A system for removing at least one metal dissolved or suspended in an aqueous solution, the system comprising:
- a) a treatment chamber, the treatment chamber further comprising:
- i) a chamber body, the chamber body comprising an insulated inner electrode disposed within an uninsulated outer electrode such that a space is defined between the inner electrode and the outer electrode to accommodate flow of the aqueous solution between the inner electrode and the outer electrode in electrical contact with the uninsulated outer electrode;
- ii) an inlet pipe, the inlet pipe positioned upstream of the chamber body, wherethrough the aqueous solution enters the chamber body;
- and
- iii) an outlet pipe, the outlet pipe positioned downstream of the chamber body, wherethrough the aqueous solution exits the chamber body;
- b) a voltage source connected in a manner that creates an electric field across the insulated inner electrode and the uninsulated outer electrode, but whereas insulation on the insulated inner electrode is positioned in a manner that prevents electric current flow between the insulated inner electrode and the uninsulated outer electrode;
- c) a bare electric trickle current conductor positioned in the space between the insulated inner conductor and the uninsulated outer conductor and with space for the aqueous solution to flow between the bare electric trickle current conductor and the uninsulated outer electrode, said bare electric trickle current conductor being connected to a trickle current source in a manner that causes a trickle current to flow in the aqueous solution between the bare electric trickle current conductor and the uninsulated electrode;
- and
- d) filtering means positioned downstream of the treatment chamber.
6 more elements
A system for removing at least one metal dissolved or suspended in an aqueous solution, the system comprising:
- a) a treatment chamber, the treatment chamber further comprising:
- i) a chamber body, the chamber body comprising an inner electrode disposed within an outer electrode such that a space is defined between the inner electrode and the outer electrode to accommodate flow of the aqueous solution through the space, wherein one of electrodes is uninsulated and in electric contact with such aqueous solution in such space and the other electrode is insulated to prevent electrical contact of such other electrode with such aqueous solution;
- ii) an inlet pipe, the inlet pipe positioned upstream of the chamber body, wherethrough the aqueous solution enters the chamber body;
- iii) an outlet pipe, the outlet pipe positioned downstream of the chamber body, wherethrough the aqueous solution exits the chamber body;
- b) a voltage source connected in a manner that creates an electric field across the space between the insulated electrode and the uninsulated electrode;
- c) a bare electric trickle current conductor positioned in the space between the insulated electrode and the uninsulated electrode, said trickle current conductor being connected to a trickle current source in a manner that causes trickle current to flow in the aqueous solution in said space;
- and
- d) a filter, the filter positioned downstream of, and connected to the outlet pipe, and the filter further comprising a discharge pipe.
5 more elements
Water treatment apparatus for removing a metal from an aqueous solution, comprising:
- (a) a first electrode and a second electrode positioned a distance apart from each other in a manner that can accommodate a flow of the aqueous solution between the first electrode and the second electrode;
- (b) an electric insulation material positioned between at least the first electrode and an aqueous solution in a manner that prevents current flow between the first electrode and the second electrode;
- (c) a bare electric conductor positioned between the insulation material and the second electrode in a manner that exposes the electric conductor to an aqueous solution flowing between the first electrode and second electrode;
- (d) a high voltage source connected to the first electrode or to the second electrode or both in a manner that creates a high voltage electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode
- (e) a trickle current source connected to the electric conductor in such a manner that a trickle current will flow through the aqueous solution in the high voltage electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode;
- and
- (f) at least one filter medium positioned downstream from the first electrode and second electrode.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.