Abstract: A method of treating a heavy metal and/or a radioactive metal-containing natural water or liquid such as a radioactive metal-containing wastewater stream, a potable water supply containing naturally-occurring radioactive elements, an oil containing one or more radioactive metals, or other nuclear metal-bearing liquid by contacting the radioactive heavy metal-containing liquid with a water-insoluble carboxylated cellulose-transition metal oxide mixture to separate the heavy metals from the liquid. The heavy metal and radioactive heavy metals precipitate from the liquid onto the cellulose material to form a radioactive metal-laden solid material. The radioactive metal-laden solid then is air-dried, calcined and/or admixed with a leach-resistant matrix, such as grout or asphalt, for suitable disposal.

Abstract: A method of treating a heavy metal and/or a radioactive metal-containing natural water or liquid such as a radioactive metal-containing wastewater stream, a potable water supply containing naturally-occuring radioactive elements, an oil containing one or more radioactive metals, or other nuclear metal-bearing liquid by contacting the radioactive heavy metal-containing liquid with a water-insoluble carboxylated cellulose-transition metal oxide mixture to separate the heavy metals from the liquid. The heavy metal and radioactive heavy metals precipitate from the liquid onto the cellulose material to form a radioactive metal-laden solid material. The radioactive metal-laden solid then is air-dried, calcined and/or admixed with a leach-resistant matrix, such as grout or asphalt, for suitable disposal.

Abstract: A method for treating a radioactive metal-containing natural water or liquid such as a radioactive metal-containing wastewater stream, an oil containing one or more radioactive metals, or other nuclear metal-bearing liquid by contacting the radioactive heavy metal-containing liquid with a water-in-soluble carboxylated cellulose to separate the heavy metals from the liquid. The process has been found to be unexpectedly effective on radioactive wastewaters or any other liquid containing one or more radioactive heavy metal ions such as U, Ce, Sr, Ru, Ra, Np, Tc, as well as radioactive ions such as I.

Abstract: A method for treating a heavy metal-containing liquid, such as a wastewater stream, oil for recycling, or other metal-bearing liquid, with a trithiocarbonate, particularly an alkali metal trithiocarbonate, such as sodium trithiocarbonate, to precipitate the metals as insoluble sulfides. The precipitated metal sulfides are recovered as a low volume sludge, which can be processed through standard metallurgical techniques to yield the metals in economically useful forms. Among the most unexpected results produced by this method is the lowering of the selenium content in a naturally occurring body of water from 1.0 ppm to 0.0015 ppm.

Abstract: A method for removing heavy metals from wastewater streams removes such heavy metal by treating heavy metal-containing wastewater with a water soluble tri-thio carbonate, particularly an alkali metal tri-thio carbonate, such as sodium tri-thio carbonate (Na.sub.2 CS.sub.3) to precipitate heavy metals therefrom.