Patent ID: 6274045
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: C02F,C22B,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for separating and recovering metals and compounds front wastewater comprising:(a) delivering said wastewater to a chamber;(b) adjusting the pH of said wastewater to from about 3.5 to about 10.5;(c) adding a metal complexing agent to said wastewater to form metal ion complexes in said wastewater said complexing agent being a mixture of water, an Inorganic base selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide and a thiocarbamates or dithiocarbamate selected from the group consisting of dimethyldithiocarbamate, dimethyldithiocarbamate, and the salts thereof;(d) adding a flocculating agent or calcium chloride as an aggregating agent or a combination thereof to said wastewater to cause said metal ion complexes to precipitate in the form of a sludge;(e) removing did sludge from said chamber;(f) reducing the moisture content of said sludge to obtain a dense ore quality solid;(g) drying said dense ore quality solid; and,(h) producing a metal rich ingot from said dried dense ore quality solid.