solids into larger sized precipitates that are generally easier to separate from the spent electropolishing solution the selection of an elevated temperature will depend on the alkylene glycol employed when the alkylene glycol comprises ethylene glycol it is generally desirable to agitate the spent electropolishing solution at a temperature of about 100 u00b0 c to about 170 u00b0 c within this range temperatures of greater than or equal to about 110 u00b0 c are preferred with temperatures of greater than or equal to about 115 u00b0 c especially preferred it is also desired to maintain the elevated temperature during agitation at less than or equal to about 160 u00b0 c and more preferably at less than or equal to about 150 u00b0 c agitation may be accomplished by batch processes or continuous processes suitable agitation processes include for example tumbling rolling mixing ball milling pumping ultrasonic stimulation sparging spinning and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing processes when batch processes are utilized it may be desirable to add a small amount of water to the spent electropolishing solution either prior to or during agitation in order to promote the dissolution of the metal containing solids when continuous processes are utilized it may be desirable to continuously meter in the requisite quantity of water to facilitate dissolution in one embodiment the amount of agitation energy input per unit mass of spent electropolishing solution is generally from about 10 000 to about 1 000 000 joules kilogram j kg within this range the agitation energy may preferably be at.