RECOVERY OF METALS FROM AQUEOUS WASTE STREAMS VIA ELECTROLYTIC RECOVERY UTILIZING A FLUIDIZED POWDER CATHODE

A NEW SYSTEM FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC RECOVERY OF METALS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS WITH A UNIQUE ELECTRODE CONFIGURATION IS PROPOSED. THIS SYSTEM WOULD USE A CATHODE CONSISTING OF A LIQUID FLUIDIZED BED OF METAL POWDER, CARBON POWDER, OR METALLIZED PLASTIC BALLS. THE CATHODE SHOULD PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER SURFACE AREA THAN A STANDARD SOLID CATHODE AND CONSEQUENTLY WILL INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE RECOVERY. ADDITIONALLY, SINCE THE CATHODE IS A FLUIDIZED BED, IT SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE PLUGGING AND THE RESULTANT SURFACE AREA REDUCTION WHICH PLAGUE STANDARD HIGH SURFACE AREA POROUS ELECTRODES. THIS CONFIGURATION ALSO SHOULD REDUCE SIGNIFICANTLY THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT HOURS REQUIRED TO OPERATE THE ELECTROLYTIC RECOVERY EQUIPMENT, SINCE THE RECOVERED METAL WILL BE IN GRANULAR FORM WHICH CAN BE EASILY REMOVED. IN TRADITIONAL RECOVERY EQUIPMENT, CONSIDERABLE TIME IS REQUIRED EITHER TO SCRAPE METAL FROM FLAT ELECTRODES OR TO REPLACE POROUS ELECTRODES.