Patent ID: 8062517

Claim:
A system for removing from aqueous media contaminated with: (1) mercury present as colloids, ions or organically bound compounds, and (2) hydrocarbons solubilized, dispersed, or emulsified in the said media; comprising: (a) means for passing the said aqueous media through a first filtration stage comprising an absorption media which effects reduction/removal of dispersed organically bound mercury species, colloidal mercury, and dispersed and partially dissolved hydrocarbon phases, phases, said first stage comprising a fluid pervious filtration media which has been infused with an absorption composition comprising a homogeneous thermal reaction product of an oil component selected from the group consisting of glycerides, fatty acids, alkenes and alkynes, and a methacrylate or acrylate polymer component, whereby the removed contaminants are immobilized at the media; (b) means for passing the aqueous media from said first filtration stage through a second filtration stage comprising a salt modified reticulated granular filtration media for reduction/removal of slightly dissolved hydrocarbon phases, and mercury in colloidal and ionic form; said salt being selected from one or more members of the group consisting of a sulfate, phosphate and/or nitrate of a period I or period II alkali metal or alkaline earth metal; and (c) means for passing the aqueous media from said second filtration stage through a third filtration stage comprising an electroless or voltaic actuated electrically conductive metallic matrix for reducing the residual ionic mercury by electroless or voltaic reduction, and for extracting the reduced mercury and residual elemental and/or colloidal mercury by collection at the matrix, the metal of said matrix having an electromotive series position or an electrovoltaic potential appropriate to effect the reduction of the residual mercury.