Patent ID: 8101304

Claim:
A process for the concentration of noble metals from fluorine-containing fuel cell components comprising a heat treatment process in the presence of an inorganic additive, wherein the inorganic additive is selected from the group consisting of Na 2 O, K 2 O, MgO, CaO, CaCO 3 , MgCO 3 , Ca(HCO 3 ) 2 , Ca(OH) 2 , Al(OH) 3 , and combinations thereof; wherein the heat treatment process is conducted in one step as a melting process, in which the fuel cell components are treated directly together with the inorganic additive in the presence of a noble metal collector and optionally a slag forming material in a melting furnace; wherein the noble metal collector is copper, silver or lead; and wherein the heat treatment process is conducted at temperatures between 500 and 1200° C. in the presence of air.