Patent ID: 6790352
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: C01F,C01P,C02F,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for treating a stream of contaminated water characterized by a high content of sulfuric acid and contaminating metal which comprises:means for adding a precipitating agent to said stream of contaminated water; said agent being a mixture of a double hydroxide of a first metal and a high pH effluent; said agent added in an operable amount to produce a slurry of a hydroxide of said first metal and contaminant metal in high sulfate laden water; means for separating said slurry into a stream of high sulfate ladened water and a cake of hydroxide of said first metal and said contaminating metal; means for separating said sulfate laden water into one stream of purified water and another stream of sulfate ladened water; means for adding ammonia to one portion of said another stream of sulfate ladened water in an operable arrangement to produce aqueous ammonia and a cake of ammonia sulfate; means for adding a double hydroxide of a second metal to a remaining portion of said another stream of sulfate ladened water in an operable arrangement to provide a cake of sulfate of said second metal and said high pH effluent; means for mixing said high pH effluent and said double hydroxide of a first metal whereby said precipitating agent is formed; means for delivering said precipitating agent to said means for adding a precipitating agent.