Abstract: A method for the alkaline digestion of soda-lime glass comprising forming a mixture of soda lime glass and a hydroxide solution, the mixture having at least 100 grams of glass per litre of H2O, the hydroxide solution having a concentration of 1M or greater to thereby form an aqueous sodium silicate fraction having a silicate concentration of 50 g/L or greater (calculated as SiO2 equivalent) and a ratio of SiO2:M2O of at least 1, wherein M2O is an alkaline metal oxide, by digesting the glass in the mixture; and separating the aqueous sodium silicate fraction from solids. The solids contain calcium silicate hydrate and undissolved glass. The calcium silicate hydrate can be CSH treated with an acid to thereby dissolve soluble metals from the CSH and separating a liquid phase from a solid phase, the solid phase comprising SiO2 or silica gel.

Abstract: A wastewater refinery comprising one or more electrodialytic cells with mono-, di-, or multi-valent selective membranes interspersed with one or more concentrate compartments to selectively recovery ions from wastewater. The wastewater refinery may harvest ions by utilising techniques including ion selective resins and pervaporation.