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Abstract

Improved apparatus and method in which brine of the geothermal and geopressured types is directed into one or more flash-crystallizer-separator units from a geothermal well. Such brine is separated into a gaseous fraction, a liquid fraction and a solids fraction. The gaseous fraction is used to provide useful work, such as driving a turbine, while the liquid and solids fractions are treated to remove the mineral values therefrom. The liquid fraction, following the mineral recovery therefrom, is directed back into the earth through an injection well. An important aspect of the invention is the injection of chemicals into one or more of the process vessels of the apparatus of the present invention. This causes additional mineral growth, such as the growth of heavy metal sulfide, in the brine. This is achieved by injecting sulfide ions into the brine, preferably in the form of sodium sulfide. The resulting brine slurry formed in the vessels can be sent to a thickener and then to a filter press for dewatering. The resulting filter cake contains the mineral values in the form of heavy metals, primarily lead, silver and zinc, and the filter cake can be sold to a smelter for extraction of the metals or the metals can be extracted on site.

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First Claim