| 摘要 |
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for recovering metals from a body of fluid through the use of electrodeposition techniques, it has particular, although not exclusive application to the recovery of metals from underwater sources, such as oceanic sources, and especially from locations in the vicinity of hydrothermal vents located below the ocean surface. The invention generally provides an apparatus for recovering at least one target mete! substance from a body of a fluid, the apparatus comprising: (a) at least one pair of electrodes (in which each pair comprises a cathode and an anode), such that when the apparatus is used, at least one pair of the electrodes is presented to the body of fluid; and (b) means for generating an electrical potential difference across the at least one pair of electrodes, when at least one of the pairs of electrodes is presented to the body of fluid, so that the potential difference generated across the pair is such as to attract one or more target metal substance present in the body of fluid, for deposition on at least one cathode on the apparatus. The invention also generally provides a method for recovering metals from a body of fluid through the use of electrodeposition techniques and the apparatus described above. |
