Patent ID: 6642168
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: B01J

Abstract:
A method for in-situ loading of metal in an adsorbent system comprising an adsorption bed and a post-treatment bed, where both the adsorption bed and post-treatment bed have capacity and affinity for the metal, the method comprising:a) flowing a solution of the metal through the adsorption bed to contact it with the solution and yield a metal loaded adsorption bed, a first metal-depleted solution within the adsorption bed, and excess solution; b) contacting at least part of the post-treatment bed with the excess solution to load at least a portion of the metal contained therein onto the post-treatment bed and yield second metal-depleted solution within the post-treatment bed; and, c) transferring the first metal-depleted solution from the metal loaded adsorption bed to either the post-treatment bed or a pretreatment bed to load at least a portion of the metal contained in the first metal-depleted solution thereon.