A method for recovering valuable metals is disclosed. The method includes: a spent catalyst preparation step in which a spent catalyst is prepared; and a leaching step in which a first inorganic compound containing VO.sub.3.sup. is leached from the spent catalyst at a temperature of less than 100 C. under normal pressure.

A process for filtering a liquid stream from a fixed bed reaction zone in order to remove catalyst fines contained in the stream. The effluent stream is passed to a filtering section which may contain at least two filtering vessels. Each filtering vessel includes at least two differently filtering sections, each section designed to collect differently sized particles. If a pressure drop occurs in one of the filtering vessels, it may be taken offline to remove the filtering sections and recover the metal in the particles collected on the filtering sections. The other filtering vessel can remain online to allow the filtering process to be continuous. Metal on the catalyst fines may be recovered.

The present disclosure relates to methods by which lead from spent lead-acid batteries may be extracted, purified, and used in the construction of new lead-acid batteries. A method includes: (A) forming a mixture including a carboxylate source and a lead-bearing material; (B) generating a first lead salt precipitate in the mixture as the carboxylate source reacts with the lead-bearing material; (C) increasing the pH of the mixture to dissolve the first lead salt precipitate; (D) isolating a liquid component of the mixture from one or more insoluble components of the mixture; (E) decreasing the pH of the liquid component of the mixture to generate a second lead salt precipitate; and (F) isolating the second lead salt precipitate from the liquid component of the mixture. Thereafter, the isolated lead salt precipitate may be converted to leady oxide for use in the manufacture of new lead-acid batteries.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods by which lead from spent lead-acid batteries may be extracted, purified, and used in the production of new lead-acid batteries. The system includes a first phase separation device configured to: receive the first mixture from the basic lead stream digestion device, isolate a liquid component from one or more insoluble components of the first mixture, and output the liquid component. The system also includes a lead salt precipitation device configured to: receive and mix the liquid component and a carboxylate source to form a second mixture including a lead salt precipitate, and output the second mixture. The system further includes a second phase separation device configured to: receive the second mixture from the lead salt precipitation device, isolate the liquid component from the lead salt precipitate of the second mixture, and output the lead salt precipitate.

The following invention relates to methods for reprocessing SCR catalysts. In a first embodiment, the invention relates to a method for reprocessing SCR catalysts, wherein an oxygen-containing compound of titanium and tungsten or molybdenum is removed from the catalyst and is then reacted with a vanadium compound. In a second embodiment, the invention relates to a method for removing titanium oxide and vanadium, molybdenum, and tungsten compounds from SCR catalysts and to a method for reusing these compounds in such catalysts.

The present invention describes a method for purification of .sup.225Ac from irradiated .sup.226Ra-targets provided on a support comprising a leaching treatment of the .sup.225Ra-targets for leaching essentially for the entirety of .sup.223Ac and .sup.226Ra with nitric or hydrochloric acid, followed by a first extraction chromatography for separating .sup.225Ac from .sup.226Ra and other Ra-isotops and a second extraction chromotography for separating .sup.225Ac from .sup.210Po and .sup.210Pb. The finally purified .sup.225Ac can be used to prepare compositions useful for pharmaceutical purposes.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods by which lead from spent lead-acid batteries may be extracted, purified, and used in the production of new lead-acid batteries. The system includes a first phase separation device configured to: receive the first mixture from the basic lead stream digestion device, isolate a liquid component from one or more insoluble components of the first mixture, and output the liquid component. The system also includes a lead salt precipitation device configured to: receive and mix the liquid component and a carboxylate source to form a second mixture including a lead salt precipitate, and output the second mixture. The system further includes a second phase separation device configured to: receive the second mixture from the lead salt precipitation device, isolate the liquid component from the lead salt precipitate of the second mixture, and output the lead salt precipitate.

The present disclosure relates to methods by which lead from spent lead-acid batteries may be extracted, purified, and used in the construction of new lead-acid batteries. A method includes: (A) forming a mixture including a carboxylate source and a lead-bearing material; (B) generating a first lead salt precipitate in the mixture as the carboxylate source reacts with the lead-bearing material; (C) increasing the pH of the mixture to dissolve the first lead salt precipitate; (D) isolating a liquid component of the mixture from one or more insoluble components of the mixture; (E) decreasing the pH of the liquid component of the mixture to generate a second lead salt precipitate; and (F) isolating the second lead salt precipitate from the liquid component of the mixture. Thereafter, the isolated lead salt precipitate may be converted to leady oxide for use in the manufacture of new lead-acid batteries.

Removing metal from metal-carbon material includes contacting the metal-carbon material with hydrogen chloride, thereby yielding a metal chloride in the gas phase and a solid product comprising carbon. The metal-carbon material and the solid product may both contain elemental carbon. A concentration of metal in the solid product is typically less than 1 wt %.

The present invention describes a method for purification of .sup.225Ac from irradiated .sup.226Ra-targets provided on a support comprising a leaching treatment of the .sup.226Ra-targets for leaching essentially for the entirety of .sup.223Ac and .sup.226Ra with nitric or hydrochloric acid, followed by a first extraction chromatography for separating .sup.225Ac from .sup.226Ra and other Ra-isotops and a second extraction chromotography for separating .sup.223Ac from .sup.210Po and .sup.210Pb. The finally purified .sup.225Ac can be used to prepare compositions useful for pharmaceutical purposes.