Robert J O'Brien

US Patent:

60962097, Aug 1, 2000

Filed:

Nov 25, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/200024

Inventors:

Robert O'Brien - Phoenix AZ
Curtis Rhodes - Portageville NY

Assignee:

AWS Industries, L.L.C. - Chicago IL
Academy Corporation - Albuquerque NM

International Classification:

C22B 1112

US Classification:

210266

Abstract:

A silver recovery apparatus is provided for removing silver from waste solutions. The apparatus includes a vessel which defines an internal cylindrical chamber having a transverse cross sectional area. An inlet port is provided at a first end of the vessel and is adapted to receive the waste solution. An outlet port is similarly provided at a location suitable for discharging the waste solution from the vessel once substantially all silver has been removed. A silver replacement core is disposed within the vessel between the inlet and outlet ports. The core substantially fills the transverse cross sectional area of the internal chamber along a longitudinal length of the vessel. The silver replacement core includes sequentially arranged first, second, and third replacement media, wherein each media is composed of a metal which is electropositive relative to silver. The first and third replacement media each have an apparent density lower than that of the second replacement medium.