Patent ID: 7686960

Claim:
A process for removing dissolved contaminants and suspended solids from water utilizing magnetic seed and magnetic separation comprising the steps of: a. in a first tank, removing suspended solids by mixing the water with a first magnetic seed comprising uncoated magnetic particles and a flocculant to produce a magnetic floc including said suspended solids; b. collecting the magnetic floc on a first magnetic collector in said first tank; c. in a second tank, removing dissolved contaminants by mixing a second magnetic seed with the water, wherein the second magnetic seed comprises magnetic particles coated with a polymer, activated carbon or biofilm, to form coated magnetic particles; d. removing dissolved contaminants from the water by sorbing the dissolved contaminants on the coated magnetic particles; and e. collecting the coated magnetic particles with the contaminants sorbed thereon on a second magnetic collector in the second tank.