Structures, methods, and processes for the selective removal of target component from a composition

Abstract

A method for the extraction of at least one target component from a starter electrolyte composition comprises the steps of providing at least one electrochemical cell, introducing to or creating within a catholyte chamber of the at least one electrochemical cell a starter electrolyte composition comprising at least one target component and one or more additives, and facilitating, via the one or more additives, targeted electrochemical manipulation of the at least one target component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for the extraction of at least one target component from a starter electrolyte composition, the method comprising:
 providing at least one electrochemical cell;   introducing to or creating within a catholyte chamber of the at least one electrochemical cell a starter electrolyte composition comprising at least one target component and one or more additives; and   facilitating, via the one or more additives, targeted electrochemical manipulation of the at least one target component.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one target component is selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metalloid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one target component is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo, Pd, Ag, Cd, Re, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Pb, Bi, Sn, Sb, In, As, Se, Te, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one target component is selected from the group consisting of As, Se, Te, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one additive is selected from the group consisting of inorganic species, organic acids, transition metals, transition metal-containing compounds, bio-organic acids, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the starter electrolyte composition comprises a first composition comprising the at least one target component and a second composition comprising the one or more additives. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one additive is selected from the group consisting of inorganic species, organic acids, transition metals, transition metal-containing compounds, bio-organic acids, and combinations thereof, and wherein the starter electrolyte composition comprises a first composition comprising the at least one target component and a second composition comprising the one or more additives. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first composition is void of one or more additives. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second composition is void of the at least one target component. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first composition and the second composition are mixed prior to entry into the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the electrochemical cell has an input and the first and second composition are mixed at the input of the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first composition and second composition are mixed within the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the starter electrolyte composition comprises metals impacted water (MIW). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising extracting the at least one target component from the manipulated electrolyte composition. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of extracting the at least one target component comprises extracting the at least one target component in a form selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metalloid, a metal oxide reduction product, a metalloid oxide reduction product, and combinations thereof.