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:
Feb. 02, 2016
Filed:
May. 10, 2010
Wim Dobbelaere, Watervliet, BE;
Dirk Crauwels, Boechout, BE;
Wim Dobbelaere, Watervliet, BE;
Dirk Crauwels, Boechout, BE;
Umicore, Brussels, BE;
Abstract
This disclosure concerns the recovery of PGM (platinum group metals) from spent homogeneous catalysts present in an organic phase. Specifically, a pyrometallurgical process is provided whereby the PGM, and Rh in particular, are concentrated in a metallurgical phases, rendering them accessible for refining according to known processes. To this end, a process is disclosed comprising the steps of: —providing a molten bath furnace, having a submerged injector equipped for liquid fuel firing; —providing a molten bath comprising a metallic and/or matte phase, and a slag phase; —feeding the spent homogeneous catalyst and an Obearing gas through the injector, a major part of the PGM being recovered in the metallic and/or matte phase; —separating the PGM-bearing metallic and/or matte phase from the slag phase. The energy content of the organic waste can be effectively used for heating and/or reduction of the metallurgical charge in the furnace. Valuable metals are recovered with high yield, and the environmentally harmful organic waste is destructed.