Implementing Vimes -- the broker component

A method and apparatus for selectively recovering ions from an aqueous solution and producing deionized water for reuse. When used in a nickel plating process, a rinse water stream is passed through a first cation removing assembly that contains an ion exchange media having a greater affinity for nickel ions than for most or all other ions present in the system. Rinse water processed by the first cation removing assembly is conveyed to a second cation removing assembly and then to an anion removing assembly so that deionized water is produced and is then returned to a rinse bath. Rinse water is passed through the first ion exchange media until substantially all of the ion exchange sites hold a nickel ion. The other cations in the rinse water are captured by the second cation assembly. The first cation assembly is regenerated using a regeneration solution compatible with the plating bath. The regeneration solution after passing through the first cation assembly releases the captured metal ions and the regeneration solution along with the plating ions is returned to the plating bath.