Abstract: A method is taught for processing scrap of electromagnetic equipment containing precious, nonferrous and ferrous metals, plastics and ceramics to recover significant portions of the precious metals contained therein. The method involves mechanically crushing the scrap to produce a mechanical mixture of particles of the electromagnetic equipment. This mixture is then subjected to mechanical concentration by hydrocyclone and recleaning on a cleaning table thereby producing a rough concentrate of precious and nonferrous metals. This rough concentrate is in turn, subjected to magnetic separation and then hydrometallurgical processing whereby the nonferrous metals leach into solution thereby producing an enriched concentrate of precious and nonferrous metals in the solid sediment.

Abstract: A method for hydrometallurgical processing of friable concentration products containing precious nonferrous and ferrous metals comprising preliminary magnetic separation of friable products to pass ferrous metals into the magnetic product and to produce a nonmagnetic fraction containing nonferrous and precious metals. The nonmagnetic fraction is treated with an alkali solution in the autoclave at 80.degree.-190.degree. C. and an oxygen pressure of 0.1-0.8 MPa, passing aluminium into the solution and obtaining a solid sediment. The sediment is treated with a sulfuric acid solution in the autoclave under a surplus oxygen pressure, passing nonferrous metals into the solution and producing enriched concentrate of precious metals in the solid sediment.