Process for removing copper in a recoverable form from solid scrap metal

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:869738

Hartman, Alan D ^[1]; Oden, Laurance L ^[1]; White, Jack C ^[1]

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1. Albany, OR

A process for removing copper in a recoverable form from a copper/solid ferrous scrap metal mix is disclosed. The process begins by placing a copper/solid ferrous scrap metal mix into a reactor vessel. The atmosphere within the reactor vessel is purged with an inert gas or oxidizing while the reactor vessel is heated in the area of the copper/solid ferrous scrap metal mix to raise the temperature within the reactor vessel to a selected elevated temperature. Air is introduced into the reactor vessel and thereafter hydrogen chloride is introduced into the reactor vessel to obtain a desired air-hydrogen chloride mix. The air-hydrogen chloride mix is operable to form an oxidizing and chloridizing atmosphere which provides a protective oxide coating on the surface of the solid ferrous scrap metal in the mix and simultaneously oxidizes/chloridizes the copper in the mix to convert the copper to a copper monochloride gas for transport away from the solid ferrous scrap metal. After the copper is completely removed from the copper/solid ferrous scrap metal mix, the flows of air and hydrogen chloride are stopped and the copper monochloride gas is collected for conversion to a recoverable copper species.

• Research Organization: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV (United States)
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by Secretary of (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5387273
• OSTI ID: 869738
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

process
removing
copper
recoverable
form
solid
scrap
metal
ferrous
mix
disclosed
begins
placing
reactor
vessel
atmosphere
purged
inert
gas
oxidizing
heated
raise
temperature
selected
elevated
air
introduced
thereafter
hydrogen
chloride
obtain
desired
air-hydrogen
operable
chloridizing
provides
protective
oxide
coating
surface
simultaneously
oxidizes
chloridizes
convert
monochloride
transport
completely
removed
flows
stopped
collected
conversion
species
solid ferrous
ferrous scrap
oxide coating
reactor vessel
elevated temperature
inert gas
hydrogen chloride
scrap metal
recoverable form
removing copper
metal mix
chloride gas
/75/