METHOD FOR PROCESSING SCRAP CONTAINING ONE OR MORE ALLOYS THAT REACT TO FORM HYDRIDES, TO ENABLE RECYCLING THEREOF

摘要

A method for processing scrap to enable recycling thereof. Said scrap is produced during the manufacture of nickel/metal hydride batteries, or consists of used nickel/metal hydride batteries, and contains one or more alloys that react to form hydrides. The method comprises (a) a spraying step carried out in a surfactant aqueous medium under conditions that cause detexturing and dispersion of the suspension; (b) a suspension sedimentation step for separating out the solid phase; (c) a series of cycles that each comprise stirring the solid phase in the presence of water and a surfactant, in particular while exposing it to ultrasonic vibration, followed by sedimentation; and (d) a final step of washing and drying the particulate solid phase resulting from the cycles in (c). Substantially intact alloys that react to form hydrides and can be recycled directly in the manufacture of batteries may thus be recovered.