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:
Dec. 04, 2012
Filed:
Aug. 10, 2006
Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI (US);
Youssef M. Mikhail, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Richard H. Blunk, Macomb Township, MI (US);
Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI (US);
Youssef M. Mikhail, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Richard H. Blunk, Macomb Township, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A method for recovering ruthenium oxide or gold and titanium or titanium oxide from a bipolar plate at the end of the life of a fuel cell stack so as to use these materials in other fuel cell stacks thereafter. The bipolar plate is immersed in a solution including a suitable acid that dissolves the titanium or titanium oxide. The ruthenium oxide or gold will be released from the plate and will float on the solution from which it can be removed. The solution is then heated to evaporate the acid solution leaving a powder of the titanium oxide. The stainless steel of the bipolar plate is thus cleaned of the titanium or titanium oxide, and can be reused.