Method for recovering metals from waste
- North Augusta, SC
- Gainesville, FL
A method for recovering metals from metals-containing wastes, and vitrifying the remainder of the wastes for disposal. Metals-containing wastes such as circuit boards, cathode ray tubes, vacuum tubes, transistors and so forth, are broken up and placed in a suitable container. The container is heated by microwaves to a first temperature in the range of approximately 300-800.degree. C. to combust organic materials in the waste, then heated further to a second temperature in the range of approximately 1,000-1,550.degree. C. at which temperature glass formers present in the waste will cause it to melt and vitrify. Low-melting-point metals such as tin and aluminum can be recovered after organics combustion is substantially complete. Metals with higher melting points, such as gold, silver and copper, can be recovered from the solidified product or separated from the waste at their respective melting points. Network former-containing materials can be added at the start of the process to assist vitrification.
- Research Organization:
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-89SR18035
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC); University of Florida ()
- Patent Number(s):
- US 6143139
- OSTI ID:
- 873355
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Method for recovering metals from waste
Method for recovering materials from waste
Related Subjects
recovering
metals
waste
metals-containing
wastes
vitrifying
remainder
disposal
circuit
boards
cathode
ray
tubes
vacuum
transistors
forth
broken
placed
suitable
container
heated
microwaves
temperature
range
approximately
300-800
degree
combust
organic
materials
000-1
550
glass
formers
melt
vitrify
low-melting-point
aluminum
recovered
organics
combustion
substantially
complete
melting
gold
silver
copper
solidified
product
separated
respective
network
former-containing
added
start
process
assist
vitrification
recovering metals
cathode ray
glass former
ray tube
circuit board
organic materials
organic material
glass formers
substantially complete
circuit boards
respective melting
solidified product
metals-containing wastes
containing material
vacuum tube
vacuum tubes
temperature glass
containing wastes
ray tubes
containing waste
covering metal
containing materials
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