Process for recycling fuel cell components containing precious metals

US7713502B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• UMICORE AG & CO. KG · DE

Inventors

• Joachim Koehler · Könnern, DE
• Ralf Zuber · Großostheim, DE
• Matthias Binder · Alzenau, DE
• Volker Baenisch · Niederrodenbach, DE
• Marco Lopez · Frankfurt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 31, 2005
• Grant date: May 11, 2010
• Expiry date: Aug 31, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02W30/84
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for recycling fuel cell components containing fluorine-containing and precious metal-containing constituents: in this process, the fluorine-containing constituents are separated off from the precious metal-containing constituents by treatment with a medium present in the supercritical state. Preference is given to using water as supercritical medium. After the fluorine-containing constituents have been separated off, the precious metal-containing residues can be recovered in a recycling process without harmful fluorine or hydrogen fluoride emissions. The fluorine-containing constituents can likewise be recovered. The process is used in the recovery of precious metals and/or fluorine-containing constituents from membrane fuel cells, electrolysis cells, batteries, sensors and other electrochemical devices.