Heraeus Precious Metals Gmbh & Co. Kg

Wilhelm Glab

Horst Meyer

Matthias Grehl

Christian Nowottny

Hans-Joachim Alt

Dieter Schafer

Dieter Schäfer

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.

Recycling furnace for burning off precious metal-containing materials

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. A dosing of liquid or liquefied substances during the pyrolysis is controlled by at least one parameter of post-combustion. Thermal post-combustion is used for two furnace chambers, one operated for pyrolysis or carbonization and the other operated as a combustion chamber.

Method and device for burning-off precious metal-containing materials

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Munich, Georgia

Wilhelm Glab