Valuable metal recovery system and valuable metal recovery method

Abstract

To provide a recovery system of a valuable metal using a functional material such as an adsorbent or an extractant that is capable of selective adsorption or concentration of an object valuable metal and circulation reuse of a valuable metal by a method such as elution reclamation and back extraction.SOLUTION: A valuable metal recovery system 1 is composed of a wastewater treatment apparatus 2 and a valuable metal recovery apparatus 3. The wastewater treatment apparatus 2 is composed of each water treatment unit including a tank 21, a flocculent settling tank 22, a membrane type filtration apparatus 23, and a valuable metal adsorption apparatus 24. This valuable metal adsorption apparatus 24 is attachably / detachably provided with an adsorbent column (functional material element). Each water treatment unit is unitized and can be mounted on one or more trailers T, transported to a discharge site of drainage water, and installed on the site. An adsorbent column after adsorption is conveyed to the valuable metal recovery apparatus 3, and at the valuable metal recovery apparatus 3, an object valuable metal is eluted or back-extracted from the functional material element filled with the adsorbent.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for recovering valuable metals in wastewater, and in particular to a system and method for recovering valuable metals that uses functional materials such as adsorbents and extractants that can selectively adsorb or concentrate target valuable metals and that can be recycled and reused by methods such as elution regeneration and stripping. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, valuable metals that can be recovered with a profit have been recovered, but valuable metals that cannot be recovered with a profit have been discarded as industrial waste, etc. However, with the recent rise in expectations for the creation of a circular economy and the rise in the value of valuable metals such as rare metals and precious metals, there is a demand for further reuse of valuable metals.

[0003] As a method for recovering such valuable metals, Patent Document 1 discloses a process that includes a step of bringing an adsorbent into contact with a solution in which precious metals are dissolved, thereby causing the adsorbent to adsorb the precious metal ions in the solution, and a step of bringing a reducing agent into contact with the precious metal ions adsorbed on the adsorbent, thereby reducing the precious metal ions and causing them to be desorbed from the adsorbent and form particles. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] WO2023 / 276710 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, to recover the desired valuable metals from wastewater containing valuable metals, equipment for recovering the valuable metals is required at each site where the wastewater is generated. This equipment for recovering valuable metals requires a wastewater treatment system that adsorbs and concentrates the valuable metals contained in the wastewater, and a valuable metal recovery system that recovers the adsorbed and concentrated valuable metals. However, when the amount of wastewater is small or the wastewater is generated irregularly, such as at specific times, not only is the initial investment burden for the valuable metal recovery system large, but the operation and management of this equipment is also required. Therefore, there is little business benefit for users (dischargers) that discharge wastewater containing valuable metals to recover the valuable metals, and this has been an obstacle to the progress of building a circular economy.

[0006] Therefore, it is conceivable that users discharging wastewater containing valuable metals could entrust the disposal of this wastewater containing valuable metals to a company capable of refining these valuable metals. However, if the wastewater containing valuable metals were to be transported from the site of the user discharging the wastewater containing valuable metals to a refinery of these valuable metals without reducing its volume, the concentration of valuable metals contained in the wastewater would be very low, and the volume of the wastewater would increase, which would reduce transportation efficiency and result in very high transportation costs, making this an unrealistic approach.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a valuable metal recovery system that uses functional materials such as adsorbents and extractants that can selectively adsorb or concentrate target valuable metals and that can recycle and reuse valuable metals by methods such as elution regeneration and stripping, and a valuable metal recovery method that uses this system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention first provides a valuable metal recovery system (Invention 1), which is a system for recovering valuable metals from wastewater containing valuable metals, comprising a wastewater treatment device having a functional material element capable of adsorbing or concentrating the valuable metals as a water treatment unit, and a valuable metal recovery device that recovers the adsorbed or concentrated valuable metals from the functional material element, wherein the functional material element is detachable from the wastewater treatment device, and the valuable metals are recovered by the valuable metal recovery device after the functional material element is removed from the wastewater treatment device.

[0009] According to the above invention (Invention 1), once wastewater containing valuable metals has been sufficiently reduced in volume by adsorbing or concentrating the valuable metals in the functional material element of the wastewater treatment device, the functional material element can be detached from the wastewater treatment device, and the valuable metals can be recovered in a valuable metal recovery device. In this case, by sufficiently reducing the volume of the wastewater containing valuable metals in the wastewater treatment device, the functional material element can be detached and easily transported. This makes it suitable for the wastewater treatment device for the wastewater containing valuable metals and the valuable metal recovery device that recovers the valuable metals adsorbed or concentrated on the functional material element to be located in different places. This allows the wastewater containing valuable metals to be treated and the valuable metals to be recovered separately from the main source of the wastewater containing valuable metals.

[0010] In the above invention (Invention 1), it is preferable that in the valuable metal recovery device, the adsorbed or concentrated valuable metals are recovered from the functional material element and the functional material is regenerated, and this regenerated functional material is reused as a functional material element again (Invention 2).

[0011] According to the above invention (Invention 2), valuable metals adsorbed or concentrated in the functional material element are eluted or stripped to recover the valuable metals, and the functional material is regenerated. This regenerated functional material can be reused as a functional material element, making it possible to create a valuable metal recovery system that is excellent in terms of the circular economy.

[0012] In the above invention (Invention 1), it is preferable that the wastewater treatment device is composed of one or more water treatment units, and that the water treatment units are portable (Invention 3).

[0013] According to the above invention (Invention 3), the wastewater of a specific user can be transported to the water treatment unit that constitutes the wastewater treatment device at the discharge point thereof, so the user does not need to construct the wastewater treatment device as a fixed structure, and a valuable metal recovery system can be created that reduces the user's initial costs.

[0014] In the above invention (Invention 1), it is preferable that the wastewater treatment device and the valuable metal recovery device are provided in different locations (Invention 4).

[0015] According to the above invention (Invention 4), the functional material element is detachable from the wastewater treatment device, and by removing the functional material element from the wastewater treatment device, the wastewater treatment device to be installed at the user's wastewater discharge point and the valuable metal recovery device can be located in different places, and by transporting the functional material element to the installation location of the valuable metal recovery device, the system installed at the user's wastewater discharge point can be used as the wastewater treatment device, thereby reducing the space required on the user's side.In addition, by selecting the recovery entity by the valuable metal recovery device depending on the valuable metal to be recovered, optimal recovery processing can be performed.

[0016] In the above invention (Invention 1), it is preferable that the functional material constituting the functional material element is selected in accordance with the valuable metals contained in the wastewater (Invention 5).

[0017] According to the above invention (Invention 5), by selecting a functional material depending on the valuable metal to be recovered, the valuable metal to be recovered can be preferentially recovered.

[0018] In the above invention (Invention 3), it is preferable that the wastewater treatment device has a pretreatment device consisting of one or more water treatment units selected from sand filtration, activated carbon, coagulation filtration, coagulation sedimentation, coagulation pressure flotation, and membrane filtration as a water treatment unit upstream of the functional material element (Invention 6).

[0019] According to the above invention (Invention 6), the pretreatment device removes impurities, turbid components, and substances that inhibit the recovery of valuable metals, thereby enabling the effective adsorption or concentration of valuable metals in the functional material element, thereby improving the recovery efficiency of valuable metals in the valuable metal recovery device.

[0020] In the above invention (Invention 5), the functional material element is an adsorbent column filled with an adsorbent, and it is preferable that the adsorbent column is transported to a valuable metal recovery device and the adsorbent is recycled (Invention 7).

[0021] According to the above invention (Invention 7), the adsorbent column is transported to a valuable metal recovery device, where the valuable metals are eluted and recovered from the adsorbent, and the adsorbent is then regenerated and can be reused as an adsorbent column.

[0022] In the above inventions (Inventions 1 to 7), it is preferable that the entity discharging the wastewater containing the valuable metals is different from the entity providing the wastewater treatment equipment, and that the entity providing the wastewater treatment equipment calculates the wastewater treatment costs for each type of valuable metal according to the market value and recovery amount of the valuable metal (Invention 8).

[0023] According to the above invention (Invention 8), by calculating wastewater treatment costs according to the type and amount of valuable metals that the provider of the wastewater treatment equipment aims to recover, a specific user can recover valuable materials without owning either the wastewater treatment equipment or the valuable metal recovery equipment.

[0024] Secondly, the present invention provides a method for recovering valuable metals from wastewater containing valuable metals, which comprises a wastewater treatment step of treating wastewater containing valuable metals using a wastewater treatment device having, as a water treatment unit, a detachable functional material element capable of adsorbing or concentrating the valuable metals, and a valuable metal recovery step of recovering the valuable metals from the functional material element, in which the functional material element is removed from the wastewater treatment device, and only the functional material element is treated in the valuable metal recovery step to recover the valuable metals (Invention 9).

[0025] According to the above invention (Invention 9), once the volume of wastewater containing valuable metals has been sufficiently reduced by adsorbing or concentrating the valuable metals in the functional material element of the wastewater treatment device, the functional material element can be detached from the wastewater treatment device, and the valuable metals can be recovered in a valuable metal recovery device. In this case, by sufficiently reducing the volume of the wastewater containing valuable metals in the wastewater treatment device, the functional material element can be detached and easily transported. This makes it suitable for the wastewater treatment device for the wastewater containing valuable metals and the valuable metal recovery device that recovers the valuable metals adsorbed or concentrated on the functional material element to be located in different places. This allows the wastewater containing valuable metals to be treated and the valuable metals to be recovered separately from the main source of the wastewater containing valuable metals.

[0026] In the above invention (Invention 9), in the valuable metal recovery process, it is preferable to recover the adsorbed or concentrated valuable metal from the functional material element and regenerate the functional material, and reuse this regenerated functional material as a functional material element again (Invention 10).

[0027] According to the above invention (Invention 10), valuable metals adsorbed or concentrated in the functional material element are eluted or stripped to recover the valuable metals, and the functional material is regenerated. This regenerated functional material can be reused as a functional material element, making it possible to create a valuable metal recovery system that is excellent in terms of circular economy.

[0028] In the above invention (Invention 9), it is preferable that the wastewater treatment device is composed of one or more water treatment units, the water treatment units are portable, and the wastewater treatment device is transported to the location where the wastewater containing valuable metals is generated, and the valuable metal recovery process is carried out therein (Invention 11).

[0029] According to the above invention (Invention 11), the wastewater of a specific user can be transported to the water treatment unit constituting the wastewater treatment device up to the discharge point thereof, so the user does not need to construct the wastewater treatment device as a fixed structure, and a valuable metal recovery system can be provided that reduces the user's initial costs.

[0030] In the above invention (Invention 9), it is preferable that the wastewater treatment step and the valuable metal recovery step are carried out in different places (Invention 12).

[0031] According to the above invention (Invention 12), the functional material element is detachable from the wastewater treatment device, and by removing the functional material element from the wastewater treatment device, the wastewater treatment device to be installed at the user's wastewater discharge point and the valuable metal recovery device can be located in different places, and by transporting the functional material element to the installation location of the valuable metal recovery device, the system installed at the user's wastewater discharge point can be used as the wastewater treatment device, thereby reducing the space required on the user's side.In addition, by selecting the recovery entity by the valuable metal recovery device depending on the valuable metal to be recovered, optimal recovery processing can be performed.

[0032] In the above invention (Invention 9), it is preferable to select the functional material of the functional material element depending on the valuable metals in the wastewater containing the valuable metals (Invention 13).

[0033] According to the above invention (Invention 13), by selecting a functional material depending on the valuable metal to be recovered, the valuable metal to be recovered can be preferentially recovered.

[0034] In the above inventions (Inventions 9 to 13), it is preferable that the entity discharging the wastewater containing the valuable metals is different from the entity providing the wastewater treatment equipment, and that the entity providing the wastewater treatment equipment calculates the wastewater treatment costs for each type of valuable metal according to the market value and recovery amount of the valuable metal (Invention 14).

[0035] According to the above invention (Invention 14), once the volume of wastewater containing valuable metals has been sufficiently reduced by adsorbing or concentrating the valuable metals in the functional material element of the wastewater treatment device, the functional material element can be detached from the wastewater treatment device, and the valuable metals can be recovered in a valuable metal recovery device. In this case, by sufficiently reducing the volume of the wastewater containing valuable metals in the wastewater treatment device, the functional material element can be detached and easily transported. This makes it suitable for the wastewater treatment device for the wastewater containing valuable metals and the valuable metal recovery device that recovers the valuable metals adsorbed or concentrated on the functional material element to be located in different places. This allows the wastewater containing valuable metals to be treated and the valuable metals to be recovered separately from the main source of the wastewater containing valuable metals. [Effects of the Invention]

[0036] According to the valuable metal recovery system of the present invention, once valuable metals are adsorbed or concentrated by the functional material element in the wastewater treatment device, the functional material element can be detached from the wastewater treatment device and recovered. This allows for separate treatment of wastewater containing valuable metals and recovery of the valuable metals adsorbed or concentrated on the functional material element. This allows for efficient recovery of valuable metals. In particular, the valuable metal recovery device recovers the adsorbed or concentrated valuable metals and regenerates the functional material, which can be reused as a functional material element. Therefore, by regenerating the functional material by eluting or stripping the valuable metals adsorbed or concentrated on the functional material element, the system can be a valuable metal recovery system that is excellent in terms of circular economy. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0037] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a valuable metal recovery system according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the valuable metal recovery system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] [Valuable metal recovery system] The valuable metal recovery system of this embodiment may have the configuration shown in FIG. 1, for example.

[0040] In FIG. 1, a valuable metal recovery system 1 comprises a wastewater treatment device 2 and a valuable metal recovery device 3 .

[0041] <Wastewater treatment equipment> The wastewater treatment device 2 comprises water treatment units: a tank 21 for storing wastewater W containing valuable metals; a coagulation and sedimentation tank 22 as pretreatment means; a membrane filtration device 23 such as MF or UF; and a valuable metal adsorption device 24. This valuable metal adsorption device 24 is equipped with a detachable adsorbent column (functional material element), which is a functional material capable of adsorbing valuable metals. Each of these water treatment units is unitized by installing the necessary equipment and piping on a pallet that can be loaded onto a transport means such as a trailer T. The unit is then loaded onto one or more trailers T and transported to the customer's wastewater discharge site containing valuable metals, where it can be unloaded from the trailer T or installed at the site while still mounted on the trailer T.

[0042] (Wastewater containing valuable metals) In this embodiment, valuable metals to be recovered include, but are not limited to, Li, Rb, Cs, Ti, Mo, Ni, In, Cu, Co, Ga, and V. When two or more valuable metals are present in the wastewater W, only one type may be recovered, two or more types may be recovered separately, or two or more types may be recovered simultaneously. Valuable metals in the wastewater may be dissolved by immersion in water, acid, or alkali. Furthermore, elution water from waste may be used as the wastewater W. In this case, the wastewater 25 may be immersed and washed in pure water to remove dirt and impurities, and then the valuable metals may be eluted from the waste using chemicals such as acid or alkali. This elution water may be used as the wastewater W, or the elution water may be combined with the wastewater W. Valuable metals exist in the wastewater W in the form of ions, and this method is suitable for wastewater W with a concentration of 10 to 10,000 mg / L.

[0043] (Pre-processing means) In the coagulation settling tank 22 and membrane filtration device 23, pretreatment such as removal of suspended solids by solid-liquid separation and removal (rough removal) of coexisting substances that inhibit adsorption / extraction is carried out. In addition to these, one or more pretreatment means selected from sand filtration, activated carbon, coagulation filtration, coagulation pressure flotation, etc. may be used.

[0044] (Valuable metal adsorption device) The valuable metal adsorption device 24 is configured by detachably accommodating one or more functional material elements arranged in series or parallel, each of which is a column filled with a functional material (adsorbent) capable of adsorbing the valuable metals contained in the wastewater W containing the valuable metals described above. The shape and size of the column as the functional material element may be selected appropriately depending on the amount of wastewater W to be treated.

[0045] Examples of adsorbents that can be used include, but are not limited to, ion exchange resins (cation exchange resins, anion exchange resins), chelating resins, various composite oxides including zeolites, activated carbon, porous silica, and porous titania.

[0046] Cation exchange resins adsorb ionic substances in wastewater by exchanging cations in the resin with cations in the wastewater. For example, they are suitable for adsorbing valuable metals such as Li, Rb, Cs, Ni, Cu, and Co that exist as cations in solution. Anion exchange resins adsorb ionic substances in wastewater by exchanging anions in the resin with anions in the wastewater. For example, they are suitable for adsorbing metal ions that exist as oxoanions.

[0047] Chelate resins are resins that have been introduced with functional groups that form chelates (complexes) with specific metal ions, and can adsorb metal ions by forming chelates with the specific metals. The most commonly used chelate resins, which have iminodiacetic acid as a functional group, are suitable for adsorbing Cu, Ni, and Co.

[0048] Zeolites can selectively adsorb cations in aqueous solutions through ion exchange. The selectivity for cations depends on the crystalline structure of the zeolite, but it is suitable for adsorbing Cs and Rb. In addition to these, lithium manganese oxide, lithium titanate, layered double hydroxides, etc. can also be used as Li adsorbents.

[0049] Such adsorbents can be selected appropriately depending on the valuable metals to be recovered to form the functional material element, and it is preferable to use an adsorbent that exhibits a high partition coefficient for the valuable metals to be recovered. Specifically, the partition coefficient is preferably 100 mL / g (mg / mL solution / mg / mL adsorbent) or more, and more preferably 10,000 mL / g (mg / mL solution / mg / mL adsorbent) or more.

[0050] <Valuable metal recovery equipment> The valuable metal recovery device 3 elutes or strips out the target valuable metals from the functional material elements filled with adsorbent. This valuable metal recovery device 3 is preferably installed in a location different from the wastewater treatment device 2, and receives and treats the functional material elements. This valuable metal recovery device 3 may be configured according to the valuable metals to be recovered.

[0051] [Valuable metal recovery method] Next, a valuable metal recovery method using the valuable metal recovery system described above will be described.

[0052] <Wastewater storage process> First, wastewater W containing valuable metals to be treated is stored in a tank 21. This wastewater W containing valuable metals may be wastewater discharged from various factories, or it may be eluted water from waste discarded at various factories. In the case of eluted water from waste, the waste is immersed and washed in pure water to remove dirt and impurities, and then the valuable metals are eluted from the waste using chemicals such as acids or alkalis to obtain eluted water. In this wastewater W, the valuable metals exist in the form of ions.

[0053] <Wastewater treatment process> (Pretreatment process) The wastewater W containing valuable metals stored in the tank 21 as described above is transferred to the coagulation and sedimentation tank 22 and subjected to coagulation and sedimentation treatment. This coagulation and sedimentation treatment removes suspended solid matter from the wastewater W and removes (roughly removes) coexisting substances that inhibit adsorption / extraction. Subsequently, fine suspended solid matter contained in the wastewater W is removed by filtration using a membrane filtration device 23.

[0054] (Valuable metal adsorption process) The wastewater W thus pretreated is treated in a valuable metal adsorption device 24. In this valuable metal adsorption device 24, ionized valuable metals are adsorbed by an adsorbent. In this valuable metal adsorption step, an upper limit of the ion concentration of valuable metals in the treated water obtained by treating the wastewater W in the valuable metal adsorption device 24 may be predetermined depending on the ion concentration of valuable metals contained in the wastewater W to be treated, the amount of wastewater W to be treated, and the amount of adsorbent used in the adsorbent column of the valuable metal adsorption device 24, and the SV of the wastewater W may be set so that the ion concentration of valuable metals in the treated water W falls below this upper limit. Alternatively, the wastewater W may be circulated in the valuable metal adsorption device 24 until the ion concentration of valuable metals in the treated water falls below this predetermined upper limit.

[0055] In this case, it is preferable to provide the valuable metal adsorption device 24 with a means for measuring the amount of treated water, such as an integrating flow meter, and replace the adsorbent column before the adsorbent breaks through. It is also preferable to provide a means for measuring the concentration of valuable metals in the treated water in the valuable metal adsorption device 24, and to set a maximum standard value for the concentration of valuable ions in the treated water measured by the valuable metal concentration measuring means based on the concentration and amount of valuable metals in the wastewater W and the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent column. When the concentration of valuable metals in the treated water exceeds the maximum standard value, it is determined that breakthrough of the adsorbent is imminent, and the adsorbent column is replaced. Such replacement of the adsorbent column is performed by transmitting the measured values ​​of the integrating flow meter and valuable metal concentration measuring means to a remote receiver via a transmitting means, and managing the received data at a management facility. This allows for stable replacement of the adsorbent column, ensuring a stable valuable metal adsorption process.

[0056] In this embodiment, the column (functional material element) filled with the adsorbent (functional material) is detachable from the valuable metal adsorption device 24, so treatment can be restarted by removing it from the valuable metal adsorption device 24 and replacing it with a new column. In addition, the wastewater after adsorbing the valuable metals may be returned to the existing wastewater treatment facility.

[0057] By using the valuable metal adsorption process described above, wastewater W having a valuable metal concentration of 10 to 10,000 mg / L can be reduced in volume to 0.01 to 10% by volume of the wastewater volume W by treating it with an adsorbent having a distribution coefficient for the valuable metals of 100 mL / g or more, particularly 10,000 mL / g or more.

[0058] (Valuable metal recovery process) Next, valuable metals are recovered from the adsorbent in the column removed from the valuable metal adsorption device 24. This recovery can be achieved by immersing the adsorbent in a solvent appropriate for the valuable metal to be recovered, eluting the valuable metal, and then precipitating the valuable metal from the solvent, which can then be dried and purified. The solvent used for elution can be selected appropriately depending on the valuable metal to be recovered, such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, or other solvents that form complexes with the eluted metal ions. Note that different valuable metals can also be recovered separately by sequentially immersing the adsorbent in different solvents.

[0059] In addition, the adsorbent can be regenerated by removing adsorbates other than valuable metals and further removing crushed adsorbent, and then drying it, allowing it to be reused as an adsorbent.

[0060] According to the present embodiment described above, the valuable metal adsorption process reduces the volume of the valuable metal wastewater to about 0.01 to 10% by volume of the valuable metal wastewater volume W, making it easy to transport the column as a valuable metal recovery product. Therefore, by transporting the column to a company that elutes and recovers valuable metals, treatment can be carried out at a location different from the wastewater treatment process.

[0061] [Operation method of valuable metal recovery system] As described above, the valuable metal recovery system 1 of this embodiment makes it possible to facilitate the transportation of the media for valuable metal recovery by sufficiently reducing the volume of the media for valuable metal recovery in the wastewater treatment device 2 compared to the wastewater W. This not only makes it possible to operate the wastewater treatment device 2 at a different location from the valuable metal recovery device 3, but also makes it possible to arbitrarily select an operator of the valuable metal recovery device 3 and entrust the valuable metal recovery process to that operator.

[0062] This allows the provider A of the wastewater treatment device 2 and the recovery company B to operate the valuable metal recovery system 1 for a user U who discharges wastewater W containing valuable metals in, for example, the following two patterns.

[0063] [Table 1]

[0064] [Table 2]

[0065] In the operation method of the above-mentioned valuable metal recovery system, the processing fee set by the provider may be set on a pay-as-you-go basis depending on the amount of valuable metals and their value based on their market value, the amount of wastewater W processed, etc., or may be set as a flat rate for a specified period of time.

[0066] By treating wastewater W containing valuable metals in the manner described above, the user U not only does not need to incur the initial costs of either the wastewater treatment device 2 or the valuable metal recovery device 3, but also enjoys the benefit of not having to install these devices at the user U's wastewater W discharge point, and only having to pay appropriate treatment costs. On the other hand, by applying the operating method of this valuable metal recovery system, valuable metals can be recovered and reused, and the adsorbent (functional material element) can also be reused, which is advantageous in terms of a circular economy.

[0067] The present invention has been described above based on the above-described embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, valuable metals are recovered by adsorption. However, valuable metal ions may be concentrated using a reverse osmosis membrane or an electrodeionization device to reduce the volume of the wastewater W. Furthermore, if the user U is treating the wastewater W containing valuable metals for a short period of time, the wastewater treatment device 2 can be transported. Therefore, the operating rate of the wastewater treatment device 2 can be improved by transporting the wastewater treatment device 2 to a discharge point of wastewater W containing other valuable metals. [Example]

[0068] The present invention will be further illustrated by the following specific examples.

[0069] [Example 1] Wastewater W containing approximately 10,000 mg / L of Cs, a valuable metal to be recovered, was prepared as simulated raw water. This wastewater W was passed through a column packed with an adsorbent (zeolite) as a functional material element in a downward flow manner. The breakthrough point was determined when the concentration of the target valuable metal in the treated water after treatment with this column was 10% of the concentration of the target valuable metal in the simulated raw water.

[0070] At this breakthrough point, the adsorbent contained approximately 200 mg of valuable metals (approximately 20% by weight). Since the simulated raw water contained approximately 10,000 mg of valuable metals (approximately 1.0% by weight), it was confirmed that the valuable metals in the adsorbent were approximately 20 times more concentrated than in the raw water.

[0071] From these results, it was confirmed that the volume required to transport the adsorbent can be reduced to approximately 1 / 25 of that required to transport raw water as is.

[0072] The adsorbent was removed from the column and immersed in a nitric acid solution (concentration: 6% by weight) to elute the adsorbed valuable metals. dry solidification By this method, valuable metals could be recovered with a recovery rate of approximately 60% by weight. Furthermore, after drying the adsorbent after elution, approximately 90% by weight of the adsorbent could be reused by removing crushed adsorbent through a sieve. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1 Valuable metal recovery system 2 Wastewater treatment equipment 21 Tank 22 Coagulation and settling tank (pretreatment means) 23 Membrane filtration device (pretreatment means) 24 Valuable metal adsorption equipment 25 Waste 3 Valuable metal recovery equipment W Wastewater containing valuable metals T Trailer (vehicle)

Claims

1. A system for recovering valuable metals from wastewater containing the valuable metals, a wastewater treatment device including, in this order, a tank for storing the wastewater, a pretreatment device capable of removing suspended solids contained in the wastewater by solid-liquid separation, and a functional material element capable of adsorbing or concentrating the valuable metals contained in the wastewater; a valuable metal recovery device that recovers the adsorbed or concentrated valuable metals from the functional material element; Equipped with During wastewater treatment by the wastewater treatment device, the wastewater treatment device is installed at a location where wastewater containing valuable metals is generated, which is different from the installation location of the valuable metal recovery device, The tank, the pretreatment device, and the functional material element constituting the wastewater treatment device are each portable, The functional material element is detachable from the wastewater treatment device, A valuable metal recovery system in which, when recovering valuable metals using the valuable metal recovery device, the wastewater treatment device is transported to an installation location of the valuable metal recovery device, the functional material element is removed from the wastewater treatment device, and the valuable metals are recovered using the valuable metal recovery device.

2. 2. The valuable metal recovery system according to claim 1, wherein in the valuable metal recovery device, the adsorbed or concentrated valuable metal is recovered from the functional material element, the functional material is regenerated, and the regenerated functional material is reused as a functional material element.

3. 2. The valuable metal recovery system according to claim 1, wherein the functional material constituting the functional material element is selected in accordance with the valuable metals contained in the wastewater.

4. 2. The valuable metal recovery system according to claim 1, wherein the pretreatment device comprises one or more devices selected from the group consisting of sand filtration, activated carbon, coagulation filtration, coagulation sedimentation, coagulation pressure flotation, and membrane filtration.

5. 4. The valuable metal recovery system according to claim 3, wherein the functional material element is an adsorbent column filled with an adsorbent, and the adsorbent column is transported to the valuable metal recovery device, and the adsorbent is recycled.

6. The valuable metal recovery system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the entity discharging the wastewater containing the valuable metals is different from the entity providing the wastewater treatment equipment, and the entity providing the wastewater treatment equipment calculates wastewater treatment costs for each type of valuable metal according to the market value and recovery amount of the valuable metal.

7. 2. The valuable metal recovery system according to claim 1, wherein the valuable metal is Cs, and the functional material constituting the functional material element is zeolite.

8. A method for recovering valuable metals from wastewater containing valuable metals, comprising: a wastewater treatment process for treating wastewater containing valuable metals using a wastewater treatment device that includes, in this order, a tank for storing the wastewater, a pretreatment device capable of removing suspended solids contained in the wastewater by solid-liquid separation, and a detachable functional material element capable of adsorbing or concentrating the valuable metals contained in the wastewater; a valuable metal recovery step of recovering valuable metals from the functional material element using a valuable metal recovery device; and The wastewater treatment step and the valuable metal recovery step are carried out in different places, The tank, the pretreatment device, and the functional material element constituting the wastewater treatment device are each portable, The functional material element is detachable from the wastewater treatment device, The wastewater treatment device is transported to a location where wastewater containing valuable metals is generated, and the wastewater treatment step is performed, The valuable metal recovery method includes transporting the wastewater treatment device to an installation site of the valuable metal recovery device, removing the functional material element from the wastewater treatment device, and then performing the valuable metal recovery step.

9. 9. The method for recovering valuable metals according to claim 8, wherein in the valuable metal recovery step, the adsorbed or concentrated valuable metals are recovered from the functional material element and the functional material is regenerated, and the regenerated functional material is reused as a functional material element.

10. 9. The method for recovering valuable metals according to claim 8, wherein the functional material of the functional material element is selected depending on the valuable metals in the wastewater containing the valuable metals.

11. The method for recovering valuable metals according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the entity discharging the wastewater containing the valuable metals is different from the entity providing the wastewater treatment equipment, and the entity providing the wastewater treatment equipment calculates wastewater treatment costs for each type of valuable metal according to the market value and recovery amount of the valuable metal.

12. 9. The method for recovering valuable metals according to claim 8, wherein the valuable metal is Cs and the functional material constituting the functional material element is zeolite.

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