Abstract: In a process for the continuous melting down of scrap metal, in particular of bales of scrap metal, which contain residual plastic materials, the scrap metal being fed to a melt-down reactor (1) and the heat required to melt this down being obtained by direct heating from below, using burners that are arranged close to the tapping point, the process is managed in the melt-down reactor (1) as a reducing process; part of the process gases is returned to the melt-down reactor (1) as combustion gas after utilization of the sensible heat and purification; the remaining portion is passed out as output gas. This makes it possible to operate without oversize gas purification systems when melting down scrap metal that contains plastic, and to utilize the pyrolysed substances that are contained in the working material to good effect.

Abstract: Method for cleaning objects with the aid of an aqueous cleaning fluid containing a washing agent, in which the objects are rinsed with an aqueous rinsing fluid after treatment with the cleaning fluid and wherein, to avoid any components having a low boiling point being returned to the cleaning and rinsing fluid as well as to avoid any loss in washing agents, the cleaning fluid is first subjected to membrane filtration, the permeate hereby recovered and containing washing agents is distilled, the concentrate resulting therefrom and containing washing agents is added to the cleaning fluid used in the cleaning process and the distillate is supplied to the rinsing process.