Patent ID: 6635182
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: C02F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of removing heavy metals from an effluent stream comprising:(a) providing an effluent stream containing heavy metals; (b) adding an effective amount of both a metal salt and a metal scavenger into the effluent stream to form floc structures including the heavy metals; (c) adding an effective amount of a flocculating polymer to increase the size of the floc structures in the effluent stream; (d) introducing a secondary stream containing gas bubbles into the effluent stream in an effective amount to produce an aerated effluent stream, wherein the combination of the gas bubbles, the metal salt, the metal scavenger, and the flocculating polymer form buoyant floc structures including the heavy metals; (e) allowing the buoyant floc structures to rise to the surface of the aerated effluent stream; and (f) removing the buoyant floc structures from the effluent stream to produce a treated effluent stream.