Abstract: Processes produce catalytically highly effective noble metal carboxylate compounds or their solutions that comprise A) a noble metal carboxylate, wherein the noble metal is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold, and B) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, a salt of oxalic acid, a derivative of oxalic acid and a salt of the derivative of oxalic acid. The process digests the noble metal with alkaline earth peroxide to produce a digestion mass and dissolves the digestion mass in a carboxylic acid or a carboxylic acid diluted with a protic solvent to produce a resulting solution, whereby alkaline earth ions are separated off as salt of an oxalic acid or salt of oxalic acid derivatives, and the processes do not include any BaSO4 precipitation and filtration of barium sulphate.

Abstract: Process for removing inorganically— and/or organically-bound carbon from a precious metal-containing composition inside an oven chamber comprising at least one direct burner and at least one exhaust gas conduit, characterised by the sequence of steps of: a) providing a precious metal-containing composition comprising fractions of inorganically— and/or organically-bound carbon inside the oven chamber; b) closing the oven chamber; c) heating the content of the oven chamber by means of at least one direct burner in order to establish a temperature T1 in the range of 450° C. to 1,000° C. and maintaining temperature T1 for 5 min-48 h; whereby, once the oven chamber is closed, any gas exchange between the oven chamber and the surroundings can take place only via the at least one direct burner and the at least one exhaust gas conduit.

Abstract: Process for removing inorganically- and/or organically-bound carbon from a precious metal-containing composition inside an oven chamber comprising at least one direct burner and at least one exhaust gas conduit, characterised by the sequence of steps of: a) providing a precious metal-containing composition comprising fractions of inorganically- and/or organically-bound carbon inside the oven chamber; b) closing the oven chamber; c) heating the content of the oven chamber by means of at least one direct burner in order to establish a temperature T1 in the range of 450° C. to 1,000° C. and maintaining temperature T1 for 5 min-48 h; whereby, once the oven chamber is closed, any gas exchange between the oven chamber and the surroundings can take place only via the at least one direct burner and the at least one exhaust gas conduit.

Abstract: Processes produce catalytically highly effective noble metal carboxylate compounds or their solutions that comprise A) a noble metal carboxylate, wherein the noble metal is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold, and B) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, a salt of oxalic acid, a derivative of oxalic acid and a salt of the derivative of oxalic acid. The process digests the noble metal with alkaline earth peroxide to produce a digestion mass and dissolves the digestion mass in a carboxylic acid or a carboxylic acid diluted with a protic solvent to produce a resulting solution, whereby alkaline earth ions are separated off as salt of an oxalic acid or salt of oxalic acid derivatives, and the processes do not include any BaSO4 precipitation and filtration of barium sulphate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bubble sensing device (1) for sensing gas bubbles in a liquid. In order to provide a reliable detection of inadmissible gas bubbles at minimum cost and required installation space, the invention provides that the gas bubble sensing device (1) comprises two ultrasonic emitters (2, 3), which are both connected to one ultrasonic signal generator (10) in a signal transmitting manner. A gas bubble sensing device senses gas bubbles in a liquid. The gas bubble sensing device comprises two ultrasonic emitters, which are both connected to one ultrasonic signal generator in a signal transmitting manner. Further, the gas bubble sensing device comprises two control devices that are each connected to one of the signal processing devices in a signal transmitting manner, wherein one of the control devices comprises an output port, at which it provides a synchronization signal during operation.

Abstract: For flow measurement a device with a compact housing and a fixable hinged cover has a measuring channel for inserting a flexible tube such that it becomes deformed in a defined way. The measuring channel extends over the entire width of the housing. A measuring cell arranged in the center of the measuring channel has four ceramics I, II, III, IV, integrated in a sound-decoupled way and facing each other diagonally in pairs, which are placed in lateral parts on the left and on the right of the measuring cell, and a base plate limiting the measuring cell downwards in the direction of an installation space for an electric evaluation system, wherein the base plate also limits the remaining area of the measuring channel from below.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bubble sensing device (1) for sensing gas bubbles in a liquid. In order to provide a reliable detection of inadmissible gas bubbles at minimum cost and required installation space, the invention provides that the gas bubble sensing device (1) comprises two ultrasonic emitters (2, 3), which are both connected to one ultrasonic signal generator (10) in a signal transmitting manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of noble metal carboxylate compounds, in which a noble metal is digested with at least one metal salt in a container and the digestion mass is dissolved in a carboxylic acid and the metallic ions introduced by the metal salt are separated from the resulting solution by means of oxalate or an oxalate derivative.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method (30) of and an apparatus (1) for determining a flow rate of a fluid and detecting gas bubbles or particles in the fluid. In order to provide a method (30) and an apparatus (1), which can be used to perform more precise measurements and to provide a better safety, the invention provides that a collapse of an amplitude of an ultrasonic signal is used for detecting gas bubbles or particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ashing plant for enriching noble metals from fluorine-containing materials, comprising a thermal treatment chamber (1) having a refractory insulating lining on the inside of the chamber and an exhaust gas cleaning system, whereby the refractory insulating lining is resistant to hydrofluoric acid and the exhaust gas cleaning system comprises at least one thermal after-incineration chamber (2), at least one or more acid scrubber(s) (3, 4) and at least one alkaline scrubber (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the contactless flow measurement of fluids in flexible tubes.

Abstract: For processing of noble metal-containing, moist recycling materials with an unknown noble metal content (hereinafter called “batch”), a moisture-binding agent is added for homogenisation and the batch is mixed with comminution of optionally pre-sent agglomerates to form a free-flowing and homogenous powder. Optionally, the following takes place subsequently for analysis: A at least one representative, volume-reduced sample is taken first of all, B the sample is dried, C the sample is optionally divided further and D the sample is analyzed and the noble metal content of the batch is calculated on the basis of the data a previously known or pre-calculated quantity of the moisture-binding agent being added before sampling (step A).

Abstract: A recycling furnace is provided for processing potentially explosive precious metal-containing materials having organic fractions that combust with great energy. The furnace includes a switching facility for alternating operation of two burning-off chambers of the furnace between: (A) pyrolysis or carbonization under protective furnace gas in an atmosphere comprising maximally 6 wt-% oxygen, and (B) oxidative combustion of the organic fractions including carbon. The furnace has indirect heating and a control that determines the end of the pyrolysis or carbonization by a sensor and controls the switching facility to supply air or oxygen to the interior of the furnace. A continuous conveyor for dosing of liquids or liquefied substances during the pyrolysis is controlled by at least one parameter of post-combustion, preferably a temperature sensor. A single waste gas treatment facility is used for thermal post-combustion for the two furnace chambers.

Abstract: A recycling furnace is provided for processing potentially explosive precious metal-containing materials having organic fractions that combust with great energy. The furnace includes a switching facility for alternating operation of two burning-off chambers of the furnace between: (A) pyrolysis or carbonization under protective furnace gas in an atmosphere comprising maximally 6 wt-% oxygen, and (B) oxidative combustion of the organic fractions including carbon. The furnace has indirect heating and a control that determines the end of the pyrolysis or carbonization by a sensor and controls the switching facility to supply air or oxygen to the interior of the furnace. A continuous conveyor for dosing of liquids or liquefied substances during the pyrolysis is controlled by at least one parameter of post-combustion, preferably a temperature sensor. A single waste gas treatment facility is used for thermal post-combustion for the two furnace chambers.

Abstract: Processes for the recovery of ruthenium from materials containing ruthenium or ruthenium oxides or from ruthenium-containing noble metal ore concentrates, with the steps of A. the introduction of the material into a highly alkaline alkali hydroxide melt in the presence of nitrate as oxidizing agent with the formation of an oxidized melt residue with water-soluble ruthenate (RuO4)2?, B. the dissolution of the oxidized melt residue obtained in water, C. the addition of a reducing agent, D. the precipitation of the metals formed, can also be used for separating off selenium. Optionally, ruthenium is separated off by distillation, instead of precipitation, following step B, with the steps of 5C the treatment of the ruthenate-containing solution with an oxidizing agent, 5D distilling off of the RuO4 obtained, 5E taking up of the RuO4 from step 5D in hydrochloric acid. By way of further subsequent purification steps, processes for the recovery of ruthenium targets are obtained.

Abstract: A recycling furnace and method are provided for processing potentially explosive precious metal-containing materials having organic fractions that combust with great energy, the furnace including a switching facility for alternating operation of a burning-off chamber of the furnace between: (A) pyrolysis or carbonization under protective furnace gas in an atmosphere comprising maximally 6 wt-% oxygen, and (B) oxidative combustion of the organic fractions including carbon. The furnace has indirect heating and a control that determines the end of the pyrolysis or carbonization by a sensor and controls the switching facility to supply air or oxygen to the interior of the furnace. Steps (A) and (B) are carried out sequentially in the furnace chamber, wherein neither the batch is changed, nor the furnace is opened. After the end of step (A) is determined, step (B) proceeds right after the pyrolysis or carbonization by supplying air or oxygen.

Abstract: In processes for removing ruthenium by distilling RuO4 from ruthenate-containing solutions with these steps of the treatment of the ruthenate-containing solution with an oxidising agent, distilling off of the RuO4 formed, absorbing the RuO4 from step II in hydrochloric acid, the oxidising agent is recycled into step I following step III. The processes can be carried out in reactor modules with A a reactor with a stirrer, gas inlet and gas outlet, B at least one scrubber connected in series downstream with the gas outlet via a line, C one or several gas absorbers connected in series downstream with the at least one scrubber via lines, E at least one line from the optionally last absorber for recycling into the gas inlet of the reactor or into a further module or into a facility for off-gas treatment.

Abstract: Palladium(0)-dibenzylidene acetone complexes Pdx(dba)y, with y/x being from 1.5 to 3, are provided according to the invention at a purity of at least 99.5 wt. %. The use of said Pdx(dba)y complexes according to the invention is for determining their stoichiometry by means of elemental analysis. In the method for the production of Pdx(dba)y complexes from a Pd-containing educt and dibenzylidene acetone (dba) in alcohol, according to the invention a solution of the dba in alcohol pre-heated to more than 40° C. is provided first and then the Pd-containing educt is added to the pre-heated solution upon which the complexes are precipitated by a base.

Abstract: Processes for the recovery of ruthenium from materials containing ruthenium or ruthenium oxides or from ruthenium-containing noble metal ore concentrates, with the steps of A. the introduction of the material into a highly alkaline alkali hydroxide melt in the presence of nitrate as oxidising agent with the formation of an oxidised melt residue with water-soluble ruthenate (RuO4)2-, B. the dissolution of the oxidised melt residue obtained in water, C. the addition of a reducing agent, D. the precipitation of the metals formed, can also be used for separating off selenium. Optionally, ruthenium is separated off by distillation, instead of precipitation, following step B, with the steps of 5C the treatment of the ruthenate-containing solution with an oxidising agent, 5D distilling off of the RuO4 obtained, 5E taking up of the RuO4 from step 5D in hydrochloric acid. By way of further subsequent purification steps, processes for the recovery of ruthenium targets are obtained.

Abstract: Process for removing the noble metal from noble metal-containing moulded catalyst bodies, comprising these steps of A leaching the noble metal from loosely heaped moulded catalyst bodies, B removing the mother liquor, C automated conveying of the moulded bodies into a centrifuge, D renewed leaching, E separating off of the residual mother liquor by centrifuging.