The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 21, 1992
Filed:
Oct. 05, 1990
Jerald W Leeker, Trenton, OH (US);
Joyce C Neidringhaus, Middletown, OH (US);
Ronald D Rodabaugh, Middletown, OH (US);
Armco Steel Company, L.P., Middletown, OH (US);
Abstract
Caustic dezincing galvanized steel scrap. A dezincing plant includes a plurality of tanks interconnected in series with steel scrap sequentially being moved through each of the tanks. The tanks contain a caustic leaching solution including an oxidant with the leaching solution being circulated through each of the tanks in a direction opposite to the movement of the scrap. Fresh scrap initially is exposed to a partially depleted leaching solution with the oxidant concentration of the leaching solution increasing as the scrap moves through the series of tanks. Leaching solution depleted of its oxidant is transferred to an electrolytic cell where zinc is removed and plated as metallic zinc powder onto a cathode. The leaching solution is recycled by removing zinc. The chemistry of the leaching solution is controlled so that sufficient free caustic is present to prevent passivating zinc coating on the scrap. Oxidant is added to the recycled solution and the caustic concentration is adjusted, if necessary, to have a total caustic concentration of at least 5 M and the recycled solution is returned to the last tank. Compressed scrap bales are dezinced and ready for use as a melting furnace charge material.