Abstract: Process for recycling an unsorted mixture of spent button cells and recovering their metallic components, comprising an anodic dissolution of the button cells, wherein metals constituting these cells are dissolved and redeposited at one or more cathodes, wherein metallic oxides are deposited in the anodic chamber and waste products (plastic, paper, etc.) accumulate in an anodic basket. Oxides are reduced to metals by thermal decomposition, mercury is recovered by distillation and the other metals are recovered by electrolytic separation.

Abstract: The process for the electrochemical separation of metal mixtures and metal alloys comprises the steps of dissolving the starting material in an elecrolyte, substituting the metals dissolved in the electrolytic solution in succession in accordance with their electrochemical potential by electrochemically less noble metals in each case and depositing them. The electrolytic solution containing the dissolved metals is passed continuously through several cells, connected to each other, in which the electrolytic solution is brought into contact with said less noble metals. Several of the metals dissolved can be substituted simultaneously by one or more electrochemically less noble metals. Metals that are deposited simultaneously together are separated electrolytically from each other, and metals which have again gone into solution are again substituted outside the electrolysis cells by said less noble metals and deposited.

Abstract: A process for the simultaneous electrolytic production of manganese dioxide and zinc from a mixture, preferably waste material consisting of spent batteries and other electronic components, contains various manganese oxides and zinc in various chemical forms, wherein the mixture is leached with an acidic solvent comprising tetrafluoroboric acid and, preferably, a reducing agent and boric acid, and subjected to an electrolysis in which zinc is plated on the cathode and manganese dioxide is plated on the anode.

Abstract: The process for the electrochemical separation of metal mixtures and metal alloys comprises the steps of dissoloving the starting material in an electrolyte, substituting the metals dissolved in the electrolytic solution in succession in accordance with their electrochemical potential by electrochemically less noble metals in each case and depositing them. The electrolytic solution containing the dissolved metals is passed continuously through several cells, connected to each other, in which the electrolytic solution is brought into contact with said less noble metals. Several of the metals dissolved can be substituted simultaneously by one or more electrochemically less noble metals. Metals that are deposited simultaneously together are separated electrolytically from each other, and metals which have again gone into solution are again substituted outside the electrolysis cells by said less noble metals and deposited.

Abstract: For the recycling of electrical batteries, in particular of a mixture of high-power batteries for equipment of any chemical composition, and also of assembled printed circuit boards and electronic components, a pyrolysis of the unsorted mixture is carried out at a temperature between 450.degree. and 650.degree. C., then an electrolysis of the pyrolysis slag is carried out and subsequently a separation of the electrolysis products and removal of the products accumulating at the electrodes is carried out.In this process, which is economically profitable, no environment-polluting residues are produced and an initial sorting of material becomes unnecessary.

Abstract: To recycle fluorescent and television tubes, the latter are introduced into a container which can be sealed in a gas-tight manner and crushed under water. In this process, the ascending gases released are drawn off under suction and fed in a compressed state to the reuse process, acid which dissolves or strips off the pollutants being added to the broken glass, which is coated with pollutants, the dissolved and stripped-off pollutants are flushed out of the broken glass, the metallic constituents are removed therefrom and then the broken glass is passed to the further utilization process. A precipitating agent is added to the liquid phase and the liquid phase is then filtered, the yttrium-containing filter cake being delivered to lanthanide manufacturers for further processing. The filtrate is fed back to the container in which the tubes are crushed.