Abstract: The method of recovering valuables from a printed wiring board on which electronic components are mounted, includes the steps of (a) removing electronic components from a printed wiring board on which the electronic components are mounted, (b) polishing a surface of the printed wiring board from which the electronic components have been removed in the step (a), (c) milling the printed wiring board a surface of which has been polished in the step (b), and (d) separating milled portions of the printed wiring board into portions mainly including copper and portions mainly including resin and filler. The electronic components recovered in accordance with the method includes valuables such as gold having greater grade than natural minerals. The copper recovered in accordance with the method includes no impurities such as solder, and thus can be reclaimed as metal resource having high added value.

Abstract: A processing method by which metals may be recovered at a high purity from metal-containing waste materials.The method for processing metal-containing waste materials comprises crushing a metal-containing waste material to a particle size of 1-50 mesh, separating and recovering the metal-containing particles from the crushed portion, introducing the metal-containing particles into a vacuum heating furnace, pre-heating the furnace while under suction evacuation, and then raising the temperature of the furnace in stages while continuing the vacuum suctioning, recovering the metal and non-metal vapor produced at each temperature level using a condensing and adsorbing means, and recovering the liquated metals as melts. The method may be used to process waste batteries, copper-containing waste materials and the like in the same manner to recover high-purity metals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and system for thermal waste treatment. The method according to the invention comprises subjecting the waste to thermolysis in a furnace to produce from the waste thermolysis gases and carbon containing solids; purifying the carbon containing solids into purified carbon containing solids which contain pollutants; using part of the thermolysis gases as fuel which is burned to heat the waste in the furnace; burning in a cyclone furnace at least part of the purified carbon containing solids containing pollutants to produce hot gases and to immobilize the pollutants present in the purified carbon containing solids into solids containing the pollutants; and providing the hot gases to an energy recovery device and using the energy recovery device to recover energy from the hot gases.

Abstract: A method by which numerous gas generators from unused air-bags can be scrapped in an environmentally acceptable manner. The method consists ofa) heating the gas generator to actuate the generator to produce combustion gases and an actuated generator having water soluble contaminants thereon;b) washing the actuated generator with a water composition to remove the contaminants from the actuated generator to produce a washed generator and a contaminated water composition containing the contaminants;c) dividing the washed generator to produce divided generator parts;d) chemically treating the contaminated water composition to produce a purified water composition; ande) classifying the divided generator parts into classified generator parts.Optionally, the dividing step can occur before the washing step, or before and after the washing step. The classified generator parts and purified water can be disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the recovery of raw materials from presorted collected waste, especially scrap electrochemical batteries and accumulators in which the scrap (10)is first mechanically prepared and divided into coarse and fine fractions (15, 16) which are further processed separately. Materials to be recovered are extracted by dissolution in steps by a first and a second solvent in a wet chemical preparation process from the fine fraction and then recovered individually from the two solutions.

Abstract: Method for the extraction of the metallic phase from dispersed mixtures of light metals and nonmetallic components. The invention pertains to an advantageous method for the extraction of the metallic phase from a dispersed mixture comprised of at least one light metal and at least one nonmetallic phase and, if applicable, at least the partial separation of the nonmetallic phase. The temperature of the dispersed mixture is raised to a temperature in the region above the melting temperature of the metal or alloy; the heated mixture is then inserted into an apparatus, subjected to an acceleration, and disintegrated, with the metallic phase thereafter being coalesced, collected and allowed to proceed to solidification.

Abstract: Aluminum is recovered from organic waste paper and packaging material containing aluminum foil by heating the waste material in a kiln or other such device to decompose the organic constituents in the waste material, preferably by pyrolysis, producing hot gaseous by-products with a carbonaceous ash residue containing aluminum. The ash residue is contacted with an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid under conditions which cause the aluminum to react with the sulfuric acid to produce aluminum sulfate. Preferably, the ash/acid contacting is carried out with a relatively dilute sulfuric acid solution and at an elevated temperature in the range of from about 80.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. to produce Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3.18H.sub.2 O as the reaction product.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for extracting gold from circuit boards, gold fingers and gold pins is described comprising the steps of applying liquid nitrogen directly to the surface of the circuit boards, gold fingers and gold pins, thus freezing the gold. A vibration is then instituted to loosen the gold from the substrate to which it was attached. The gold flakes or particles are then collected by a high powered vacuum apparatus.

Abstract: A process and device for recovering cadmium and nickel metals from Ni-Cd battery and processing scrap material containing nickel, cadmium, iron and other substances are disclosed. The process includes depositing the scrap material in a furnace and adding an effective amount of an oxygen getter in the furnace to prevent oxide formation. Argon or nitrogen gas is introduced and maintained in the atmosphere of the furnace. The furnace is then heated for an effective period of time to evaporate free water. The temperature of the furnace is then increased and maintained to approximately 500.degree.-800.degree. C. for an effective period of time to volatilize molecular water and non-metallic substances. The temperature of the furnace is then further raised to greater than approximately 900.degree. C. for an effective period of time to vaporize cadmium from the scrap material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of decontaminating metal (especially aluminum or aluminum alloy) scrap contaminated with organic material. The problem with such methods is that undue oxidation of the metal may take place as the decontamination proceeds, leading to reduced recovery rates. The process involves heating the scrap in a fluidized bed of solid particles fluidized by a fluidizing gas to a decontaminating temperature high enough to consume the organic material but below the melting point of the metal. The heating step is carried out in the presence of a protective material which protects the aluminum or aluminum alloy against substantial oxidation while the scrap is held in the bed at the decontaminating temperature. Preferred protective materials include organic and inorganic fluorine-containing compounds, particularly AIF.sub.3. The process is particularly effective for the treatment of aluminum alloys containing magnesium, which are especially susceptible to oxidation.

Abstract: Filters contaminated with hydrocarbons are treated to reduce hydrocarbon content to acceptable levels for transportation and recycling. In one embodiment used petroleum filters are crushed and some of the hydrocarbon products released. The filters, either crushed or non-crushed, are heated in a primary chamber to a temperature of at least about 250.degree. C., the air flow into the primary chamber is controlled and the temperature in the primary chamber is maintained within a temperature range of about 250.degree. to 400 .degree. C. by application of heat and application of water sprays to carbonize hydrocarbons in the filters. The hydrocarbon vapors and water vapors from the primary chamber are condensed in a condenser and any non-condensed hydrocarbons remaining are incinerated in a secondary chamber.

Abstract: A method of recovering an aluminum-containing metal from a scrap material containing the metal and an organic contaminant, such as paper, plastics, lacquer, paint or oil. The method involves creating a fluidized bed of solid particles, maintaining a zone of the bed at a temperature in the range of the melting point of the metal to 1000.degree. C., introducing the scrap material into the fluidized zone to cause decoating of the metal within a time in the range of 1 to 40 seconds, at least partially melting the metal, and removing the metal material from the fluidized bed. In this way, decoating and at least partial melting is achieved essentially at the same time for improved efficiency. Metals of different melting point may also be separated from each other by providing a series of temperature zones in the fluidized bed (or in a series of fluidized beds) of progressively increasing temperature.

Abstract: Metal plated steel sheet scraps are heated to a temperature in the range of about 200.degree. C.-500.degree. C. so that organic material adhered to the scraps is evaporated and removed. Then, the scraps from which organic material has been removed are heated to a temperature in the range of about 500.degree. C.-950.degree. C. so that the plated metal, for example zinc or aluminum, is evaporated. The evaporated metal flows to a retrieving device where the evaporated metal is condensed and retrieved.

Abstract: A method for removing free lead from a feed stream of used aluminum beverage cans (UBC) to reduce the total lead content of the feed stream. The UBC material is shredded, heated to a temperature above the lead melting point, and agitated to cause the molten lead to fragment and form small particles. The material is then screened to form a second particle stream containing a large percentage of any free lead present in the feed stream and a third particle stream comprised primarily of shredded UBC. The second particle stream is introduced into a fluidized bed to separate the fines from the aluminum particles, the fines containing the majority of the free lead. The aluminum-enriched remaining particles, after separation from the fines, are conveyed for subsequent reprocessing.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of waste products, in particular oil-contaminated chips of reactive metals such as magnesium and magnesium alloys includes heading the chips to a temperature close to or above the boiling point of the oil and below the melting point of the metal. Preferably, a closed, cylindrical rotating furnace having inner, slanting blades/wings on the wall of a furnace is used. Chips are fed from a container via a transporting device into the furnace. A closed outlet system conducts the chips from the furnace. Oil vapour is conducted out of the furnace and is coalesced.

Abstract: In a method of disposing of organic and inorganic substances, the substances are gasified and decomposed in and/or above a liquid bath of a metal alloy under negative pressure, off-gases forming are seized, collected and purified and separated.To prevent the formation of health-endangering emissions, such as dioxins and furans, and to recover pure starting materials for the production of organic substances, the substances are charged under negative pressure into an induction furnace containing a melt (18) of an iron alloy, in particular a steel melt, and are decomposed in the latter at liquid steel temperature, whereby the entry of gaseous O.sub.2 is avoided.This is also the case at the production of steel from scrap interspersed with organic substances.

Abstract: A method of recovering an aluminum alloy and a stainless steel alloy from an air bag inflator 10 that has aluminum alloy parts, including an aluminum alloy housing 12 and non-aluminum alloy parts, including a non-aluminum gas filter 18. The non-aluminum parts have a higher melting temperature than the aluminum alloy parts of the air bag inflator 10. The method comprises heating the air bag inflator 10 in the range of the melting temperature of aluminum and then recovering the aluminum alloy which is not contaminated with the material of the higher melting temperature parts. After the aluminum alloy has melted from the air bag inflator 10, the non-aluminum parts are heated to a higher temperature to melt any stainless steel alloy from the non-aluminum parts. The stainless steel alloy is recovered as a high purity stainless steel alloy end product.

Abstract: Used appliance batteries are subjected to a thermal-mechanical treatment in a closed container at a temperature at which, with the assistance of mechanical pressure and/or impact, metal-plastics and metal-metal bonds are disrupted. Then, after the metal parts, the synthetic plastics parts and graphite electrodes are separated by conventional physical separating methods, vaporized mercury is extracted and washed with sulphuric acid in a washing device and any metal salts are brought into solution and processed by ion exchange. The treatment is carried out in an apparatus which includes a heatable container provided with a closable charging aperture, a discharge orifice and with feed and discharge lines for inert gas. A gas washing device for the inert gas leaving the container employs sulphuric acid with which the vaporized mercury reacts forming mercury sulphate.

Abstract: A method of simultaneous disposal of liquid and solid wastes comprises the steps of introducing liquid and solid wastes into a gasification reactor with a cooled reactor inner wall and liquid slag discharge and gasifying the liquid and solid wastes at a temperature which is at least 50.degree. C. higher than a melting temperature of mineral components of the solid wastes with a dwelling time of a produced gas in the gasification reactor more than 2 seconds.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for purifying waste gases from a secondary aluminum melting plant are provided, by which the individual waste gas flows are collected and thermally post-combusted, wherein the generation of the energy necessary for post-combustion is provided by waste substances of high caloric value.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous pyrolytic decomposition of a feed material having an organic and an inorganic component and recovery of the inorganic component, carbon-free, for reuse in essentially the same material as from which it originally emanated inter alia. The apparatus includes a reactor assembly for receiving and pyrolytically decomposing the organic component of the feed material. The reactor assembly includes a screw-type conveyer assembly wherein the flights which convey the residue through a housing having openings therein to allow gaseous decomposition products to pass therethrough to preclude pressurization of the housing by the decomposition products.

Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of metal-laminated plastics scrap and/or radio, television or computer scrap, wherein the scrap is heated in a closed container to a temperature at which the metal-plastic bond is broken and the metal and plastics parts are segregated from each other. The apparatus comprises a heatable container which is provided with a closable scrap charging opening and a closable products removal opening. An inert feed conduit and inert gas removal conduit are connected to the container which is formed as a rotary tube. An inert gas washing chamber is provided between the inert gas removal conduit and the inert gas feed conduit.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous pyrolitic decomposition of a feed material having an organic and an inorganic component and recovery of the inorganic component, carbon-free, for reuse in essentially the same material as from which it originally emanated inter alia. The apparatus includes a reactor assembly for receiving and pyrolitically decomposing the organic component of the feed material. The reactor assembly includes a screw-type conveyor assembly wherein the flights which convey the residue through a housing have openings therein to allow gaseous decomposition products to pass therethrough to preclude pressurization of the housing by the decomposition products. The inorganic residue has carbon thereon and may be cooled to an oxidation temperature in a non-oxidizing manner in a first cooling assembly.