Abstract: Method and apparatus for handling cathode plate support rods include detaching the support rods from the cathode plate and transporting the same in a longitudinal direction over a transfer track to a support rod grouping station wherein the same are moved in a transverse direction by pushing apparatus associated with grouping apparatus whereupon the support rods are received on bunching guides of bunching apparatus, the bunching apparatus being arranged to pack the groups of support rods in layers within a transporting and storage crate.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical method of recovering zinc, copper and cadmium from their ferrites so that the ferrites are treated under atmospheric conditions in sulphuric acid bearing solution in the presence of potassium-, sodium- or ammonium-ions, is disclosed, in which the treatment takes place in one stage under such conditions that the non-ferrous metals, zinc, copper and cadmium, contained in the ferrites are transferred as sulphates to the solution and the iron is converted in the same stage to a solid basic iron salt by adjusting the sulphuric acid or ferric sulphate addition to be equivalent with regard to the ferrite amount fed into this stage and by adjusting the temperature to 80.degree. - 105.degree.C, preferably to 95.degree. - 105.degree.