Process for the production of a PGM-enriched alloy

US10202669B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• HERAEUS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH & CO. KG · DE
• HERAEUS PRECIOUS METALS NORTH AMERICA LLC · US

Inventors

• Norbert Ritschel · Robbins, US
• Jimmy Taylor · Sunbright, US
• Todd A. England · Sunbright, US
• Brian Peters · Wartburg, US
• Felix Stoffner · Oak Ridge, US
• Christoph Röhlich · Hanau, DE
• Steffen Voss · Limeshain, DE
• Holger Winkler · Darmstadt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 29, 2016
• Grant date: Feb 12, 2019
• Expiry date: Mar 20, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/20
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for production of a PGM (platinum group metal)-enriched alloy containing iron and PGM(s) (platinum, palladium and/or rhodium) includes steps of: (1) providing a sulfur-free PGM collector alloy, (2) providing a copper- and sulfur-free material capable of forming a molten slag-type composition including silicon dioxide and magnesium and/or calcium oxide, (3) melting the PGM collector alloy and slag-forming material within a converter until a multi-phase system of a lower high-density molten mass of PGM collector alloy and an upper low-density molten mass of slag-type composition has formed, (4) contacting an oxidizing gas with the lower high-density molten mass of step (3) until conversion of the PGM collector alloy into a PGM-enriched alloy, (5) separating an upper molten slag formed in step (4) from the PGM-enriched alloy by difference in density, (6) allowing the separated molten masses to cool down and solidify, and (7) collecting the solidified PGM-enriched alloy.