Mary Madden Field

US Patent:

62418726, Jun 5, 2001

Filed:

Jul 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/361241

Inventors:

Robert E. Marks - Baton Rouge LA
Stephen D. Field - Baton Rouge LA
Mary Madden Field - Baton Rouge LA

Assignee:

Compliance Consultants, Inc. - Baton Rouge LA

International Classification:

C02F 146

US Classification:

205702

Abstract:

A method and apparatus concentrates, collects and removes heavy metals, other cations, and anions from media permitting generation of electrical fields. The heavy metals and other cations are electrochemically concentrated and precipitated for rapid removal from the aqueous media. The media, which may be aqueous, soils or wastes, is filtered and passed through a cation or anion exchange resin beds. Metals or anions are captured and held in the resin beds. Current is then applied through the resin beds using opposing electrodes of opposite polarity. In the metal removal units, heavy metals and other cations are concentrated around the negative electrode and lifted to a top of the electrode chamber using hydrogen gas lift. The concentrated solution of heavy metals and cations are removed from the chamber above the negative electrode and are circulated to provide additional time for growth and precipitation.

US Patent:

60745371, Jun 13, 2000

Filed:

Apr 29, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/848154

Inventors:

Robert E. Marks - Baton Rouge LA
Stephen D. Field - Baton Rouge LA
Mary Madden Field - Baton Rouge LA

Assignee:

Compliance Consultants, Inc. - Baton Rouge LA

International Classification:

C02F 1461

US Classification:

204263

Abstract:

A method and apparatus concentrates, collects and removes heavy metals, other cations, and anions from media permitting generation of electrical fields. The heavy metals and other cations are electrochemically concentrated and precipitated for rapid removal from the aqueous media. The media, which may be aqueous, soils or wastes, is filtered and passed through a cation or anion exchange resin beds. Metals or anions are captured and held in the resin beds. Current is then applied through the resin beds using opposing electrodes of opposite polarity. In the metal removal units, heavy metals and other cations are concentrated around the negative electrode and lifted to a top of the electrode chamber using hydrogen gas lift. The concentrated solution of heavy metals and cations are removed from the chamber above the negative electrode and are circulated to provide additional time for growth and precipitation. Once in a crystalline structure or precipitated form, the elemental metals and metal hydroxides are separated from the aqueous phase using a trap, which retains the crystallates and precipitates.