Patent ID: 8968572
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: C02F,Y02A

Abstract:
1. A method for the purification of water contaminated with sulfate ions and with heavy metal ions, the method comprising: collecting water that accumulates in a natural water reservoir via natural drainage, the collected water being contaminated by sulfate ions and heavy metal ions via contact with the natural water reservoir; supplying to the natural water reservoir a substance that interacts with contaminants in the natural water reservoir to form a first precipitation substance comprising heavy metal; extracting from the natural water reservoir water containing the first precipitation substance and filtering the extracted water into clean water having reduced sulfate ions and heavy metal ions, and dirty water enriched with sulfate ions and heavy metal ions; at least partially recirculating the dirty water back into the natural water reservoir wherein the recirculated dirty water mixes with water that was not extracted from the natural water reservoir to provide a concentration of sulfate ions in the natural water reservoir that forms a second precipitation substance comprising sulfate that settles by gravity into a collecting region formed at the bottom of the natural water reservoir; and physically removing at least a portion of the second precipitation substance out through the top of the collecting region of the natural water reservoir.