The Enviro-Clean process, patented and sold by Lewis Environmental Services (LES), uses specially treated activated carbon to remove heavy metals from wastewater. LES has successfully treated waste streams containing chromium, copper, zinc, lead, silver, cadmium, mercury, iron, selenium, nickel, and molybdenum. The Enviro-Clean process can treat single or multi component metal bearing streams. The process of removing heavy metals involves contacting a waste stream with the carbon, by allowing it to flow through a series of packed-bed filters. The activated carbon selectively absorbs the metal ions by a surface attraction/chemical bonding phenomenon. The end result is that the carbon concentrates the metals in the filter. Les’ “proprietary” activated carbon will remove metals to concentrations of 0.1 to 0.05 mg/l. Spent carbon is sent to a processing facility where the concentrated metals are stripped and recovered using an innovative electrolytic metal recovery technique. The carbon is effective for 25 to 30 cycles before requiring disposal. In all cases, the carbon has passed TCLP testing. No sludge or hazardous waste is generated during the process. Recovered metals are sold to various industries, ending cradle to grave liability. Granular activated carbon has also shown the ability to catalytically destruct cyanide without the use of oxidizing chemicals. The Enviro-Clean process is currently treating wastes at an electronics manufacturer where simultaneous metal removal and cyanide destruction is accomplished. Laboratory and pilot evaluations are available to determine treatability and economics.
Enviro-Clean Flow
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