Patent ID: 7153435

Claim:
An apparatus for removing heavy metals from water comprising: a. a water conduit for introducing water containing heavy metals into the apparatus; b. a conduit for introducing a quantity of magnetite or magnetite precursors into the apparatus; c. a mixing chamber wherein the water containing heavy metals is mixed with the magnetite such that a least a portion of the heavy metals are bound to the magnetite; d. a magnetic separator configured such that magnetite is removed from the water by application of a magnetic field; e. a solid matrix positioned within the magnetic separator that displays remnant magnetism that is sufficient to bind the portion of the heavy metals that are bound to the magnetite under flow conditions in which the water superficial velocity through the magnetic separator is in a range from about 0.5 cm/sec. to about 2 cm/sec; and f. an outlet conduit from conducting water out of the apparatus.