Process for treating aqueous solutions containing industrial wastes

摘要

A treatment zone 10 in the form of a basin 12 having an inlet port 14 and an outlet port 16. The inlet port 14 allows water to flow into the basin 12. The outlet port 16 allows water to flow out of the basin 12. The inlet port 14 and the outlet port 16 are located at opposite ends of the basin 12 so as to allow water from a body of water having a concentration of water soluble metal ions contained therein to flow substantially through the entirety of the basin 12. A porous matrix 22 is disposed within the treatment zone 10. The porous matrix 22 is inoculated with a population of aerobic metal oxidizing bacteria. The population of aerobic metal oxidizing bacteria is capable of metabolizing water soluble metal ions in the water from the body of water into water insoluble metal oxides. Thus, there is an overall decrease in the concentration of the metal ions in the water flowing out of the treatment zone 10 as compared to water flowing into the treatment zone 10. The water flow out of the treatment zone also has a higher pH than the water flowing into the treatment zone.