Patent ID: 6085911
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: B09C,C02F,C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for removing metal contaminants from substrate comprising the steps of:(a) mixing the substrate with water to form a pumpable slurry;(b) separating large uncontaminated particles from the slurry by classification and washing for return as uncontaminated substrate;(c) microfiltering said remaining step (b) slurry to produce a first concentrated solids-rich stream for passage to a metallurgical furnace for further processing and a first microfiltrate stream;(d) concentrating, precipitating and microfiltering said first microfiltrate stream to produce a second concentrated solids-rich stream for passage to said metallurgical furnace for further processing and a second microfiltrate stream;(e) polishing said second micro filtrate stream by flowing through an extraction vessel containing microporous inorganic filter media for adsorbing metal cations from said second microfiltrate stream; and(f) discharging said polished step (e) stream back into the environment as uncontaminating water.