Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for recovering solid particulates in liquid, typically water containing precious metal particles, such as is produced as a by-product of jewelry manufacture. The apparatus has a settling tank, which contains a fabric trap for entrapping very fine particles. Water in the tank is moved through the trap by a syphon producing a very small pressure gradient across the trap, which, because the pressure is so small, enables one to use a trapping fabric of much larger mesh than has been possible heretofore.