PROCESS FOR RECOVERING VALUABLE METALS FROM SPENT CATALYSTS

摘要

A process for recovering heavy metals from spent catalysts on an alumina support material comprising calcining the catalyst feed material to remove impurities and smelting the calcined feed in an electric arc furnace, preferably with scrap iron. A reducing agent, such as natural gas, is injected into the furnace to reduce the heavy metals to their metallic states. The reduced metals form an alloy and separate from the alumina by gravity.