US Patent 7674526 - Fabrication of nanoscale zero-valent metal

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7674526.html

This patent teaches a manufacturing method for nanomaterials useful to treat waste water. Claim 1 reads:

1. A process for producing a nanoscale zero-valent metal, said process including

reduction of a metal ion solution with a dithionite compound,

wherein said reduction is carried out under alkaline conditions and under a substantially inert atmosphere.