Patent ID: 7951270
Filing Date: 2011-05-31
Classification: B01J,C10B,C40B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A continuous method of recycling a metal/organic laminate comprising metal laminated with an organic material, the method comprising: providing a reactor comprising a first chamber containing a first bed of particulate microwave absorbing material and a first rotary stirrer, and a second chamber containing a second bed of particulate microwave absorbing material and a second rotary stirrer, the second chamber having an exit from the reactor; introducing laminate and additional particulate microwave absorbing material into the first chamber containing the first bed of particulate microwave absorbing material; stirring the particulate microwave absorbing material and laminate in the first chamber using the first rotary stirrer and applying microwave energy to the mixture of particulate microwave absorbing material and laminate in the first chamber to heat the particulate microwave absorbing material in the mixture to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyse organic material in the laminate; transferring a portion of the mixture in the first chamber to the second chamber containing the second bed of particulate microwave absorbing material; stirring the mixture in the second chamber using the second rotary stirrer and applying microwave energy to the mixture in the second chamber to heat the particulate microwave absorbing material in the mixture to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyse organic material remaining in the laminate, whereby laminate or delaminated metal migrates towards and floats on the upper surface of the mixture in the second chamber, wherein at least the rotary stirrer in the second chamber is configured as a horizontally extending blade rotating about a vertical axis at its midpoint, the upper edge or upper surface of the blade sloping down from said midpoint towards the extremities of the blade to fluidise the mixture such that the upper surface of the fluidised mixture has a radial profile that biases laminate or delaminated metal floating on the fluidised mixture to migrate radially outwards; transferring a portion of the mixture in the second chamber to the exit from the reactor; and recovering metal from the exit from the reactor.