Method for treating water containing sulfates

摘要

An apparatus and method for removing contaminating metal ions and sulfate ions from acidic aqueous solution such as waste mine water which features; (1) passing the solution between pairs of electrodes, each pair of electrodes impressed with a voltage selected according to specific ion species and then adding chemical agents to raise the pH and form precipitates of the metal and sulfate ions; (2) applying a magnetic field during at least the first mixing step; and (3) allowing a precipitate to form; (4) separating the precipitate from the water with settling and filtering steps; (5) adding ammonium to precipitate and remove sulfates; (6) apply reverse osmosis to remove an ammonia; (7) adjust the pH to neutral T.