Patent ID: 6555010
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: C02F,C22B,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for obtaining a desired colloid-forming metal from a solution containing that metal in ionic form that comprises the steps of:(a) providing an aqueous mine waste water solution containing a desired colloid-forming metal in ionic form having a pH value of about 4.0 to about 6.5; (b) passing direct current at about 1.2 to about 2 volts through the solution for a time period sufficient to convert the desired metal ions into colloidal metal and form a colloidal metal-containing composition; (c) agitatingly admixing cellulose particles with the colloidal metal-containing composition to form an agitated slurry of cellulose particles admixed with the colloidal metal; (d) admixing a flocculating agent with the agitated slurry to form a settling composition containing a cellulosic floc; (e) maintaining the settling composition in the absence of agitation for a time period sufficient to form two phases, a first phase that contains water and a solid phase comprising colloidal metal entrapped within a cellulosic floc and a second liquid discharge water phase having a reduced concentration of desired metal; (f) separating the solid and liquid phases; (g) drying the solid phase; and (h) fluxing the solid phase and heating the fluxed solid phase to a temperature sufficient to melt the colloidal metal present to form larger particles of the desired metal and to burn off the cellulosic floc.