Recovery and recycling of metal ions

The removal and recycling of dissolved metals in medium to low concentrations from waste waters by electrodeposition, at source, is seen to be attractive due to the potential for a one-step clean method of metal recycle. The recovery of metals from solution by electrodeposition can be conveniently divided into the following two areas, depending upon the metal ion concentration to be treated  

Electrodeposition cells can produce the metal in a number of forms compact metal for re-use or re-sale, powdered or flake metal, or concentrates for recycling. The metal may be produced as an alloy as an alternative to pure metal. The choice of the metal form depends largely on the use or destination of the material. It may be recycled directly within the process operation, or to another process, or reprocessed either in house or sold for refining or scrap. 

Chemlec cell (BEWT Water Engineers Ltd.) Vertical mesh (or plate) in an electrolyte with fluidised glass beads Discontinuous by manual scraping or reuse as anodes in electroplating 

Concentric cell (Wilson Process Systems Inner surface of a cylindrical foil Discontinuous — brass cathode may be furnace refined in the case of gold 

Rotating electrode cell (Wilson Process Systems) Rotating cylindrical foil, or static cylindrical foil with rotating anode Discontinuous by manual scraping or flexing 

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