Process for recovering a heavy metal catalyst component from a spent catalyst

摘要

A supported catalyst contaminated with organic impurities or a mixture of such a catalyst and a flux is introduced into a rotary furnace, rocking furnace or gradient furnace and agitated and heated therein until sintered or transformed into a semi-melted state. After sintered or transformed into a semi-melted state, the mix is then solidified, cooled and pulverized. The heavy metal is recovered by gravity concentration or magnetic separation. Alternatively, the sintered or semi-melted mixture may be fused at a higher temperature to separate the components by difference in their specific gravities.