target element substances in the sorbent container 20 during related or contemporaneous time periods while such element substances are present in the sorbent container 20 and being processed the waste stream 8 as treated in the container or area 20 is then pumped or otherwise communicated on the supply line 31 to the subsystem carrying out solid liquid separation step iii as illustrated schematically in the drawing solids are typically separated using a combination of centrifugal separation and settling 33 and filtration 34 hydrocyclones and such like means are a preferred method for initial separation of sorbents followed by ultrafiltration to remove very fine or colloidal solids centrifugal separation is particularly effective at concentrating the solids for disposal however it will be understood that other similar means may be used to carry out the same functional purpose the filter unit 34 to which the stream 8 is provided by supply line 31 is illustrated representationally as showing an ultrafiltration setup having at least one media or membrane sub unit in a preferred embodiment of the invention one or more tubular ultrafilter membranes are utilized although the ultrafiltration employed does not have to be tubular in nature and one or more of such units can be employed an example of a preferred ultrafiltration unit is the tuft u2122 system from diversified technologies systems inc in knoxville tenn the tuft u2122 system i e the u201c tubular ultrafiltration u201d system filters the waste stream 8 to less than about 0 05 micron and is capable of removing virtually 100 of suspended solids metal complexes and most colloidal material from the stream by passing it through a series of cross flow membranes as indicated other types of cross flow membranes.