FI129534B - Device and method for processing material - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for treating a solid material (7) is provided, the apparatus comprising at least one transport tube (12) arranged to receive a unit dose (10) of material to be treated, at least one treatment tank (29, 30, 31), and a source of transfer force applied to the unit dose of material to be treated. (27a) wherein the transfer force is arranged to deliver a unit dose in a transport tube, wherein the at least one transport tube is connected to at least one treatment tank for transferring a unit dose of material to be treated along the transport tube to the treatment tank. Also provided is a method of treating a solid material using equipment.

Description

Field of the application The application relates to an apparatus and a method for treating a material, for example chemically and / or physically. The application also relates to the recovery of substances from the material to be treated, - as well as to an electrochemical method for coating, stripping and / or cleaning the materials. Background Art In the circular economy, precious metals, rare earths and / or other substances for the reuse of electrical and electronic waste or other suitable wastes are separated using known methods based on chemical solvents or electrolysis. The processing of materials has traditionally been carried out using process equipment based on linear mechanical devices which transports baskets or rotating cylindrical vessels in the xyz coordinate planes to transport the materials to be processed on the process line between process tank fluids, flush tank fluids and waste. The conveyors of the known process equipment are large in size, heavy, complex, slow, space-consuming, easily damaged, require constant maintenance, and each processing tank and / or process line has its own conveyor. Due to the mechanical handling principles used to transport the materials to be processed, the structure of the process tanks must be kept open. The open solution requires a separate insulated protection structure, a ventilation system and filters for the removal of toxic fumes and odors when using strong acids or toxic chemicals. In addition, conventional known process equipment is not always suitable for processing small piece sizes or powders, and the feeding and / or unloading of the material to be processed is often manual. It is challenging to design the above-mentioned <known process equipment as fully automatic? as imaging processes.

O E Brief Description The implementations described herein succeeded in providing an apparatus and method = 30 with which materials can be handled in a controlled, fast and safe manner.

O N The material to be treated in the apparatus and method is transported in one or more treatment tanks, whereby chemical, electrochemical, mechanical and / or physical treatment can affect the material to be processed.

The material to be treated may be in a transport capsule, which may have holes, or alternatively the transport tube is perforated at the treatment tanks or treatment areas, whereby the treatment allows the material to be treated to be affected. The material to be treated can be transported in liquids and / or gaseous liquids in containers within a perforated transport capsule or transport tube, whereby the liquids and chemicals can act on the material to be processed inside the perforated transport capsule or transport tube. If necessary, an anode and / or cathode voltage supply can be integrated into the transport capsule or transport tube, which enables the use of electrochemical and / or electrolysis-based methods for the material to be processed. The apparatus for treating solid material comprises - at least one conveying tube arranged to receive a unit dose of the material to be treated, - at least one treatment container, and wherein - at least one transport tube is connected to the at least one treatment tank for transferring a unit dose of material to be treated along the transport tube to the treatment tank. The method for treating a solid material comprises: - providing equipment for treating the material, - providing at least one unit dose of the material to be treated,

N x is placed in at least one unit dose of material to be treated in at least one transport tube of the apparatus,

I = 25 - -exposing at least one unit dose of the material to be treated to a transfer force 5 to transfer it to at least one treatment tank, © = -treating the material to be treated in at least one treatment tank to obtain

No treated material is used.

In addition, the recovery of substances from the material to be treated and the use of electrochemical methods for coating, stripping and / or cleaning the materials are disclosed.

The main embodiments are set out in the independent claims. Other embodiments are set out in the dependent claims. The embodiments and examples set forth in the claims and the specification may be appropriately combined, unless otherwise indicated.

Compared to known devices and / or methods, the equipment and method allow a fast movement of the material (typically about 5-7 m / s) and a safer way to transfer the material to be processed between different process steps. The transfer of material between different processing steps is so fast that the time required for transfer is small in relation to the times required for the treatments. Because the equipment is substantially closed, odor nuisances and the risk of exposure to chemicals or other hazardous conditions are greatly reduced.

- The equipment and method enable better optimization of the dimensions of the use of space and the modular structure of the equipment. It is possible to place part of the equipment in different spaces and / or levels, which helps to manage and secure the spaces and the process. Because the material moves rapidly in the tubes between processing steps, the different treatments or other steps do not have to be located in close proximity to each other but can be dispersed. For example, treatments that require hazardous substances or irradiations can be arranged in a completely different room or building than other treatments, for example, over long distances and / or indoors. Likewise, the production, pretreatment, packaging and / or actual processing of the raw material can take place at different locations. In the mining industry, for example, the raw material is mined underground, crushed on S 25 and further processed in a different location. 4 The equipment is safer due to its closed structure and allows continuous? implementation of an operational and automatic processing line. The equipment can be implemented in existing premises, and the passage of pipes through walls or similar structures is relatively simple and does not require significant alteration or dismantling of the structures. The equipment can also be implemented in existing treatment tanks, whereby the old technology transfer system can be replaced and a new S closed system can be formed. In the case of a pneumatic system in particular, one source of transmission force is sufficient to use several conveying pipes when using a tubular gearbox or the like,

possibly the entire hardware. This is cost effective and saves space. It is also possible to duplicate the process lines, so that the material supply can be carried out with the same source of transmission force by adding gearboxes and transport pipes. The apparatus and method allow the use of very different or different types of starting material, both large piece sizes and small material and raw materials in powder form, for example by dissolution methods or by electrolysis / electrochemical methods. Brief Description of the Figures Figure 1 shows an exemplary structure of a perforated transport capsule. Fig. 2 shows an exemplary transport capsule opened. Figure 3 shows the lid of an exemplary transport capsule open. Figure 4 shows an exemplary transport capsule in which an electrically conductive metal anode / cathode coating is integrated into its inner surface. Figure 5 shows an overview of an exemplary apparatus. Figure 6 illustrates the power supply from the power supply to the anode conductor and cathode. Figures 7a, 7b and 7d show exemplary pipelines for the apparatus. Figures 8a, 8b and 8c show exemplary equipment process tanks. Figure 9 shows exemplary hardware transport capsule docking station solutions.

O

O N 20 - Fig. 10 shows an example in which a cathode and anode feed for electrochemical processes are integrated in the process tank. Figures 11a and 11b show exemplary apparatus. Ao a N Figures 12a and 12b show exemplary apparatus. Fig. 13 shows an example of bringing a perforated conveying tube into an airtight manner. Figure 14 is a top perspective view of an exemplary anode-cathode structure for recovering metals in ionic form using electrochemical methods having a motor-rotating cylindrical cathode structure and a fixed anode structure at a suitable distance.

Detailed Description The application discloses an apparatus / apparatus and method for treating the material 5 - chemically and / or physically.

The material to be treated in the apparatus / equipment is arranged to move automatically or semi-automatically in a closed space between one or more processing tanks, such as a processing tank / basin, a flushing tank or basin, a waste and / or storage tank or tank, within a separate transport system. with or without a transport capsule.

The material to be treated in the process is moved automatically or semi-automatically in a closed space between one or more treatment tanks, such as a processing tank or tank, a flushing tank or tank, a waste and / or storage tank, and a material supply system within a transport pipe .

The method can be performed with the equipment described herein.

The application also discloses a method for recovering the substance or substances from the material.

The material can be recovered by any of the treatments described herein and utilizing the equipment described.

One or more substances, such as precious metals, rare earths and / or other substances, can be recovered from the material to be treated and can be further recycled.

The substance to be recovered can be recovered from a treatment tank, for example a liquid or a precipitate therein.

Electrolytic methods such as electrowinning, capture technology such as ion trapping, precipitation, and other suitable methods can be utilized in the recovery.

S Apparatus for handling material comprises at least one conveying tube O arranged to receive the material to be treated, at least one processing tank E or processing area, and a source of transferring force N applied to the material to be treated, the conveying force being arranged to convey the material to be treated in the conveying tube, the at least one transport tube is connected to at least one treatment tank for transferring the material to be treated along the transport tube to the treatment tank.

The method of treating a material comprises: providing the apparatus disclosed herein, providing a treatable material, preferably a solid material, placing said treatable material in at least one transport tube of the apparatus, subjecting the treated material to a transfer force to transfer it to at least one processing tank, and treating the treated material at least in one processing tank to obtain the treated material.

In processing - one or more substances or compounds may be released from a solid material in solid or soluble form.

The transport capsule used in the apparatus and method has holes or, alternatively, a hollow transport tube in the process tank is perforated, whereby the holes or openings can be subjected to chemical and / or physical treatment - the material to be processed while the capsule is in the process tank.

Preferably, the average diameter of the perforation or openings in the transport capsule or tube in the process container is always chosen to be smaller than the dimensions of the body to be processed or the average diameter of the particle to be processed, for example 1-10 mm.

The perforation or opening may be round, oval, slotted or otherwise shaped.

The dimensions shown here - refer to the largest diameter of the opening.

If the material is individually packaged or bagged in the transport capsule, the transport capsule may have a more open structure, in which case it may have one or more larger holes or openings, for example 5-100 mm on average, or it may be completely or partially caged. - The material to be treated, i.e. the starting material, may be a solid material or a solid, such as industrial waste or recycled material and / or metal-containing material, for example one or more of the following: electrical and / or electronic waste, metal waste, mining material such as ore, coated material.

Other suitable materials, such as waste, recycled materials, and the like, can be treated accordingly.

The material to be treated may be crushed, granulated, N powdered or pulverized to enhance the treatment.

In solid material, the material to be treated is in particulate form, and preferably the material is substantially free of liquid, for example water.

The amount of water may be less than 10% by weight, less than 5% by weight, less than 1% by weight, or less than 0.5% by weight. In general, the average particle size of the material to be treated may be from micrometers to centimeters, for example 10 Nm to 10 cm.

The average particle size = of the ground or pulverized material is generally less than 1 mm, for example less than 500, or less than 100, for example 20-500 or 20-100.

The method may comprise crushing, grinding N or pulverizing the material, for example before placing it in a unit dosage form.

Hardware

- may comprise one or more devices for crushing, grinding or pulverizing the material, such as one or more crushers, grinders or the like. The apparatus for handling the material comprises at least one transport tube arranged to receive at least one unit dose of the material to be treated. A unit dose refers to a certain amount of material to be treated, such as a predetermined constant amount, which may refer to weight, volume or number of pieces, for example the number of particles, granules or other pieces, for example the number of pieces obtained by crushing. The unit doses can be processed in several ways, usually depending on the amount of material to be treated and the capacity of the equipment. In suitable implementations, a continuous flow of bulk material in the pipe can also be transferred. Multiple unit doses may be the same or substantially the same size. The unit dose of material to be treated may comprise, in addition to the material to be treated itself, a delivery capsule for the material, such as a perforated delivery capsule containing a dose of the material. Alternatively, a unit dose of the material to be treated may comprise a solid whole or a bulk dose of the material to be treated. The unit dose of material to be treated is adapted to the transport tube or tubes of the apparatus. The diameter of the unit dose may be smaller than the inside diameter of the transport tube, for example 1-10 mm smaller, 1-5 mm smaller, or 1-3 mm smaller. The diameter of the bulk parts, particles or the like must be such that they fit into and move in the transport tube. Depending on the transfer force used, the diameter of the unit dose may be smaller. When using an overpressure, for example compressed air, or a negative pressure, it is preferred that the difference between the diameter of the unit dose and the inside diameter of the transport tube is relatively small so that the pressure provides efficient transport. The unit dose may be elongated in shape, for example 2-5 times the outer diameter.

O 5 The transport capsule can be cylindrical or cylindrical. The transport capsule is generally <Q partially open, for example perforated or perforated, which allows the material in the capsule to be processed. The capsule material may be any suitable E 30 material that can withstand the treatment of the material, such as metal, plastic N or composite material. The transport capsule may comprise one or more seals by means of which the clearance between the transport capsule and the transport tube can be minimized, while allowing the transport capsule to travel effortlessly in the tube. The seal may be of a material that does not cause significant friction. The seal may be in the form of annular zones around the transport capsule, for example one seal at each end of the transport capsule or near the end. The seal should be able to withstand the treatment of the material, such as chemical treatment.

The transport capsule may comprise one or more bearings or bearing elements, such as an annular bearing, by means of which the friction between the transport capsule and the transport tube is minimized. In one embodiment, the material to be treated is in the transport capsule.

The transport capsule may allow the unit dose to propagate efficiently in the piping and may help the material to remain in the unit dosage form.

The apparatus may be provided with one or more transport capsules.

The transport capsules may be the same or different.

It is possible to provide different transport capsules for the same equipment, for example transport-only capsules and processing capsules.

For example, the processing capsules may have an anode and / or a cathode, such as a central anode-forming pin and a surrounding cathode body, or may include a processing material or active component, such as one or more reactive chemicals, scavengers, catalysts, ion scavengers, ion scavengers. similar.

The processing and / or active material may be provided in support bodies, for example bodies made of plastic or other suitable material, which may provide a reaction surface area and / or act as a flow-through filter.

The processing or active material may react with the treatment fluid, and / or may react with the substance or substances recovered from the material, for example, a metal in ionic form.

The equipment can thus perform various treatments on the same material, such as dissolution, electro-

lysis, ion capture, ion exchange, absorption, adsorption and the like.

In another embodiment, the material to be treated is not in the transport capsule.

In this case, it may be a solid whole or a bulk dose of the material to be treated. - The solid assembly can be, for example, an assembly compressed from bulk material, such as a batch-like unit or an assembly which remains compact and can be handled without a transport capsule.

The solid assembly may be packaged or bagged, or may comprise a cohesive surrounding structure, such as a net, wire, tape, bag, or the like, or may be without it.

Crushed, ground or powdered material with a small particle size, for example N less than 1 mm, may be packed or surrounded by a suitable permeable material, such as fabric, gauze or netting, such as fabric or plastic, for example Nylon- or netting, or with gauze, which may be in the form of a resealable bag.

The material thus packaged or N-bagged may also be included in the transport capsules described herein. - An example of a powdered material is waste from the electronics industry, which contains residues of electronic components, circuit boards and the like containing plastics, metals and the like, which may be ground to a micrometer-class powder or powder, for example with an average particle size of less than 100.

The use of a fixed entity can help control the process, for example, when the material is suitable to be provided as a fixed entity and / or if such an entity can or is desired to be broken down during the process.

The bulk dose may remain separate due to the transfer method used, for example by the material transport space provided by the transfer method or apparatus, for example by the space between the rollers in the tubular roller conveyor.

In such a solution, the transport pipe must have openings, such as perforations, at the handling tank or other handling area to allow the material to be handled.

The apparatus may comprise a delivery capsule supply and / or filling system or apparatus 34, which may include a material container, such as a supply container and / or hopper, from which the material is arranged to be guided into a refillable transport capsule, as shown in Figure 5.

A predetermined amount of material may be packaged in a shipping capsule, for example, based on weight, volume, or one or more other properties of the material.

The supply and / or filling system may have one or more devices for moving the transport capsules from the feed to the next step, for example the turntables shown in Figures 5 and 9, which may have one or more docking stations for receiving transport capsules, one or more devices for opening capsules - and / or and / or one or more devices for transferring capsules in the supply and / or filling system.

The apparatus may also comprise a system for packaging or bagging the material to be treated instead of or in addition to a supply and / or filling system.

The pivot plane may have or be connected to one or more actuators, such as an electric motor, arranged to move, such as pivot - and / or tilt, the pivot plane.

The turning plane can be axial, and thus arranged to rotate or turn N.

One or more actuators may be connected to one or more control units to control the actuator (s).

Corresponding turning levels can be applied to other parts of the equipment, such as tanks. z The packed transport capsule can be arranged to be moved forward, for example to the storage space or to be fed into and transported from the transport pipe.

In one example (Fig. 5), the filled unit dose is fed to a transport pipe leading to a pipe exchanger R, where the unit dose is directed by means of a pipe exchanger to and along the next transport pipe.

The equipment for feeding and / or filling the transport capsule, or the storage of raw materials to be processed, may be physically different from the equipment for handling the material, for example they may be far apart or they may be in the same rooms. The devices can be arranged to be operatively connected to each other.

The material to be treated can be pretreated before the actual processing in the equipment.

The pretreatment may comprise, for example, a cooling or freezing treatment. The pretreatment can be based on a dry ice blasting technique, in which the cleaning and stripping effect of the surface layer is based on the dirt-removing effects of kinetic energy, cold temperature and evaporation. The apparatus may comprise means for supplying dry ice, liquid nitrogen or the like to the material to be treated, the means being located in or before the supply and / or filling system.

- The transport tube can be a tube made of any suitable material, usually cylindrical, for example a plastic tube, a metal tube, a composite material tube or a glass tube, which tube is hollow. The transport tube can be transparent, which allows the material to progress and the operation of the equipment to be monitored. The inner diameter of the transport pipe can be 5-100 cm, for example 10-100 cm or 10-50 cm in large-scale industrial applications, such as mining applications, or 5-20 or 10-30 cm, for example circular economy applications. The outer diameter of the transport pipe is larger depending on the thickness of the pipe wall. Because the diameter of the transport pipes can be kept relatively small, this allows for efficient management of space usage and safe handling, maintenance and monitoring of the equipment during the process. The delivery tube may be straight or may have one or more bends or curves, however, so that it is possible for the unit dose to proceed through the bends in the tube as well. The transport tube has a first end and a second end. The first end is the end arranged to receive a unit dose of untreated material or the end to which said material to be treated is placed and from which the material is to be processed. The other end of the transport tube is usually the S end on the handling tank side. x In the apparatus, at least one transport pipe is connected to at least one treatment tank = for transferring a unit dose of material to be treated along the transport pipe to the treatment tank. There may be one or more treatment tanks and they may be the same = 30 - or different. The apparatus may comprise one or more transport tubes and treatment tanks, for example so that one tube leads to one treatment tank, as illustrated, for example, in Figure 5. The transport tubes are then arranged so that the material can be transferred to the desired locations in the tubes and in the desired order. . The end of the transport tube on the treatment tank side may have means for slowing down the unit dose rate, such as a stop module or means for providing an air brake.

The unit dose - can - be delivered = from the tube = to the treatment tank. - As an alternative to the treatment tank, the equipment may have one or more treatment areas, especially when the chemical in the tank is not needed for treatment. The apparatus may have both one or more processing tanks and one or more processing areas. The processing area has processing means for handling the material. The tube may also have a perforated or perforated portion which can be closed and opened and through which the unit dose can be handled in the transport tube. The apparatus may comprise one or more means for operatively connecting a plurality of tubes, such as a line shifter or tube gearbox, which may, for example, comprise a tube exchanger connected to two or more conveying tubes for transferring a unit dose of material to a desired conveying tube. The tube exchanger has a movable tubular part controlled by an actuator, the position of which can be changed so that it can be connected to different transport pipes, such as two or more transport pipes. In this way, the flow of a unit dose can be controlled in an apparatus comprising several transport tubes. The unit dose can travel in the piping in two directions, allowing it to pass through the tube exchanger to the first transport tube, passing it through the first treatment tank, where it is treated with the first treatment. The treated unit dose can then be directed back to the tube exchanger by reversing the direction of the transfer force. The tube changer can then be used to direct the unit dose to another transport pipe, along which it passes to a second treatment tank, where it is treated with a second treatment. The corresponding procedures can be repeated as many times as necessary, depending on the number of different treatments and treatment tanks and transport pipes. The apparatus can perform, for example, two, three, four, five or six treatments, which can be different or partially or completely similar. A tube changer actuator, such as an electric motor, may be connected to one or more control units to control the actuator. Systems with several independent lines can be functionally connected using line shifters.

S The material is arranged to be handled in a treatment tank. The treatment may be a chemical treatment, an electrochemical treatment, a mechanical treatment or a physical treatment, or a combination thereof. The apparatus has at least one treatment tank comprising N treatment means for performing any of the following treatments: chemical treatment, = electrochemical treatment, mechanical treatment, physical treatment. The treatment may = be correspondingly selected from a chemical treatment, an electrochemical treatment. physical treatment, such as irradiation or visual treatment. Treatment can also be called processing, especially if the structure of the material changes during processing, for example in a chemical or electrochemical treatment or process. Inside the treatment tank there may be a docking station arranged to receive a unit dose. Inside the treatment tank, there may be means for moving the unit dose in the tank, for example a turntable with one or more openings or a docking station for the unit dose. The turntable may be rotatable or pivotable and may be vertically movable. This allows several unit doses to be controlled and moved in the container at the same time, and / or the unit doses to be transferred to another stage, for example to the next transport tube or agitator. The treatment may also be a rinsing, for example after or before a chemical treatment, or between chemical treatments. In this case, the treatment tank may be a flushing tank. According to one embodiment, the treatment comprises a chemical treatment. In this case, the treatment tank can be, in its simplest form, a chemical tank, a processing tank or the like. The material to be treated can move, for example, automatically or semi-automatically in a closed space in the liquids of at least one processing tank, in the liquids of the rinsing tank, in the waste and / or storage tank and in the supply system of the material to be processed. The treatment means for carrying out the chemical treatment may comprise the treatment tank itself, and / or one or more chemical sources, and for example one or more stirrers, heaters, sensors, outlets and / or the like. The source of the chemical may comprise a chemical container connected to the treatment container via an opening and / or a pipe, for example via an opening and closing valve therein. The chemical used may be an aqueous or organic solvent-based solution or dispersion of one or more chemicals. Examples of suitable chemicals include acids, bases, electrolytes, salts, and rinsing solutions such as water or other aqueous solution. - According to one embodiment, the treatment comprises an electrochemical treatment. The treatment means for electrochemical treatment may comprise one or more sources of electric current, an electrode such as an anode and / or a cathode, a treatment tank, and / or one or more sources of chemicals such as an electrolyte, and for example one or more stirrers, heater, sensor, outlet and / or the like.

I, 30 - According to one embodiment, the treatment comprises a physical treatment. The physical treatment may be, for example, visual treatment, irradiation, heating, cooling and / or other non-invasive treatment. The treatment means for the physical treatment may comprise one or more, a light source, a radiation source, a radio wave source, a heat source, a cooling source and / or the like. - The processing means may also comprise one or more sensors, a camera, a microscope or the like for receiving light, radiation or radio waves from the treatment, and / or one or more analysis devices. Radiation or other non-invasive methods can be used, for example, to analyze the material, for example, to determine metal concentrations and / or to identify metals present. The analysis can be, for example, spectral analysis. The radiation can be, for example, radio radiation, X-ray radiation or gamma radiation. In one example, the untreated material, such as its unit dose, is first analyzed to determine the substances therein, after which the material is directed to one or more treatments, and finally the treated material is re-analyzed in the same manner. In this way, the efficiency of the treatment (s) and, for example, the amount of recoverable substances can be evaluated. When using strong radiation, it may be necessary to isolate the treatment area, for example by means of concrete or metal walls, and / or to place the treatment area separate from other treatment areas or areas where people work. This is possible when using transport tubes, because in the present system, the material transfer time in the transport tube does not become a bottleneck in the treatment method. - According to one embodiment, the treatment comprises a mechanical treatment. The mechanical treatment may be invasive, in which case the material is treated by means of one or more mechanical means, for example by means of a grinder, crusher, drill, grinder or the like. The mechanical member is generally connected to an actuator, which may be further connected to one or more control units for controlling the actuator. In addition to the actual treatment tanks, the equipment may have one or more emptying tanks, waste tanks and / or storage tanks into which the treated material can be discharged, usually at the end of the treatment. The material in the transport capsules can be removed from the capsule at this stage. The emptying tank, the waste tank and / or the storage tank can be - moved elsewhere, it can be opened and / or the trapped material can N be removed from the opening in the tank. The material to be removed may be waste.

N x The material to be processed is moved in the apparatus by means of a transfer force, which can also be called a moving force. The apparatus has at least one source of transfer force, such as a source of transfer force applicable to a unit dose of material to be treated, wherein the transfer force is arranged to transport the unit dose in a transport tube. A device or apparatus comprising a conveying pipe or conveying pipeline described herein and connected to a source of transmitting force may be referred to as a pipe conveyor. The source of the transmitting force may be, for example, selected from a source of pneumatic force, such as an overpressure source, or from a source of underpressure, such as a compressed air tank, a compressor or a fan; mechanical conveyor; and a source of a magnetic field such as a magnetic conveyor. Accordingly, the transmitting force may be selected from underpressure or overpressure, a mechanical force, and a magnetic force such as a magnetic field. The direction of the transfer force may be arranged to be reversed, for example by changing the direction of flow of the gas, or the direction of transport of the mechanical or magnetic conveyor, so that the unit doses in the piping can be moved in the desired direction. In one embodiment, the transfer force is a gas pressure, such as overpressure or underpressure. The movement of the material to be treated can be effected pneumatically by applying the pressure and flow of the gas, for example by means of a vacuum or overpressure generated by the source of the transmitting force, such as a vacuum or overpressure generated by the fan. The overpressure can also be provided by a compressor and can come from a compressed air tank which can be connected to the compressor. The gas used may be air, or it may be an inert gas such as noble gas. The source of transmitting force may be connected to one or more control units to control the source of force.

A pneumatic pipe system may comprise a fan or other suitable source of force operatively connected to one or more transport pipes, i.e. to supply overpressure or underpressure to the pipe, for example at or near the end of the pipe. The direction of the fan can be changed as required, so that the direction of travel of the unit dose in the tube can be changed. The speed of the fan can also be - adjusted, for example by means of a frequency converter connected to the fan, whereby the speed of the unit dose in the transport tube can be controlled, for example decelerated if necessary. The transport pipe may further have one or more valves for releasing pressure from the pipe. For example, as a dose unit moving in a tube approaches its destination, the control unit can detect this in the system - based on a sensor and in response to open the valve, causing the pressure in the tube to drop and the rate of the dose unit to slow down. The passage of the dosing unit can also be stopped by arranging a so-called the air brake, i.e. by closing the end of the tube, e.g. by closing <Q the valve therein, e.g. the space between the> tubes is small enough.

2 In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises

O N - at least one transport tube (12) arranged to receive a unit dose (10) of material to be treated, for example in a capsule or packed or bagged,

-the source (27a) of a transfer pneumatic force, such as vacuum or overpressure, which can be applied to the unit dose of the material to be treated, at least one treatment tank (29, 30, 31), the transfer force being arranged to transport the unit dose in a transport pipe, to at least one treatment tank for transferring a unit dose of material to be treated along the transport tube to the treatment tank.

In one embodiment, the transfer force is a mechanical force, such as a mechanical push or pull on a unit dose.

The movement of the material to be treated can be effected by means of one or more mechanical conveyors. - In one example, the mechanical conveyor is a roller conveyor, such as a tubular roller conveyor.

When a roller conveyor is used, the material to be treated does not necessarily have to be in a transport capsule, but may be a solid whole of the material to be treated, or even the material to be treated in bulk form, such as in bulk, especially in the case of a tubular roller conveyor.

The mechanical conveyor may have one or more actuators, for example an electric motor, arranged to drive the conveyor mechanism.

One or more actuators may be connected to one or more control units to control the actuator.

In general, transport can take place both horizontally and vertically, as well as in combination, which allows the structure of the process equipment to be optimized - to suit the dimensions of the production space.

Treatment tanks, such as process tanks, rinsing tanks, and / waste and / or storage tanks, can be positioned side by side and / or on top of each other.

The underpressure or overpressure can be used by means of a pipe exchanger to move the materials to be processed in several different parallel processing lines.

N In addition to the transport pipes, the system can also have other transfer systems, for example inside a treatment tank, in a pipe changer or between two treatment tanks.

Other transmission systems may comprise, for example, a linear actuator or other mechanical actuator, hoist or conveyor, for example a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, a conveyor, a robot-controlled actuator or the like.

The transfer system has one or more actuators for actuation thereof, such as an electric motor, and may comprise one or more gripping members for gripping the unit dose.

Inside the treatment tank, the unit dose can be transferred from the transport tube for handling and / or back.

For example, one or more linear actuators may be provided between the two treatment tanks to transfer a unit dose from the first - treatment tank = to the second = processing tank.

These transmission systems or actuators can also be connected to one or more control units to control them. In one embodiment, the transmitting force is a magnetic force, such as a magnetic field. In this case, the unit dose of the material to be treated must react to the magnetic field. The material itself may be magnetic, for example containing a ferromagnetic metal, or a transport capsule reacting with a magnetic field may be used, for example a transport capsule containing a ferromagnetic metal such as iron, or a magnetic transport capsule. For example, the transport capsule may have one or more permanent magnets. Accordingly, the transport tube, such as around it, may have one or more coils connected to the power supply and arranged to provide a magnetic field or fields which transmit a unit dose in the transport tube. This entity can form the source of the magnetic field. By controlling the formation and / or order of the magnetic fields with respect to time and place, for example by pulsing, a magnetic force acting on the tube can be produced, which transfers the unit dose in the tube in the desired direction. The source of the magnetic field provided in the transport tube may be connected to one or more control units for controlling the magnetic field. The system has actuators that provide system functions, such as moving parts. The actuators may be electric, such as an electric motor, or they may be electrically controlled, for example by means of an electric switch. Examples of electric motors are a servomotor and a stepper motor with a separate motor control unit or circuit. The actuators are connected to the electrical system and may be controllable by one or more control units to achieve the desired operation. S 25 - The apparatus may comprise one or more vibrators, vibrators, stirrers, rotators, or the like, with which the contact between the material and the liquid, and thus the reactions between them x, can be intensified. These may be connected to one or more actuators, which may be controllable by one or more control units to achieve the desired operation. The apparatus may further include one or more damping units or dampers to prevent or reduce the transmission of vibration or the like to other parts of the apparatus.

O = The apparatus may have one or more control units arranged to control one or more parts of the apparatus, such as an actuator, a switch, a heater, a valve, a sensor, a camera and / or the like. The control unit may be connected to the part it controls, or it may be connected to it by cabling or wirelessly.

The control unit may comprise one or more computers with a processor, memory, software, and possibly an interface, such as a display, a touch screen, and / or a keyboard. The software is arranged to perform one or more control functions when performed by the processor. The control function may comprise controlling or operating an actuator or other device that affects the operation of the system, such as turning the power on or off at the actuator, adjusting the speed of the actuator, controlling the operation of a heater or radiator, or the like. The apparatus may comprise one or more sensors arranged to detect the condition or conditions of the system, such as temperature, humidity, pH, movement of a part of the system, the presence of a unit dose, an image, and / or other information. The sensor may comprise, for example, a switch, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a pH sensor, a motion sensor, a camera, a light sensor or another sensor. One or more control units may be arranged to receive information detected by one or more sensors and, on the basis of and in response to the information, preferably based on programmable or programmed logic, to perform one or more control functions on the system. In applications for processing a powdery material or small particles, the perforated transport capsule or transport tube may, if necessary, be lined with a web-like material in which the mesh size of the net is smaller than the diameter of the particle to be processed. The unit dose of material without the transport capsule can also be upholstered in a similar way. In applications based on electrolysis methods, a positive or alternatively negative terminal voltage of the power supply can be connected to the perforated transport capsule or to the perforated tube inside the process tank liquid via a metallic conductor. The process, in particular the chemical process, can be enhanced by installing an oscillating actuator and / or a suitable rotating mechanism for mixing the material to be processed on a perforated tube or transport capsule in the process pool liquid.

O = The compressed air or other gas of the vacuum or overpressure fan used to move the transport capsule can also be used to mix the liquid in the process and to purge the material to be processed from the process liquids by directing the compressed air produced by the fan through suitable nozzles and / or air knives. either in the process liquid or in the material to be processed.

O N The chemical dissolution of the material to be treated or processed and the electrochemical recovery of the metals in ionic form dissolved in the liquid may, if necessary, be carried out in the same tank as in the process tank,

as sequential or parallel processing steps, resulting in less space and a more cost-effective solution. The terms “material to be processed” or “material to be processed” as used herein refer to various particles, pieces, parts and other pieces of different sizes. Examples of material to be treated or processed are precious metal-coated electronic waste materials and crushed and / or powdered ore. In the mining industry, mined ore is crushed into smaller piece sizes in connection with various process steps and, if necessary, pulverized before the chemical or electrochemical removal of base metals, rare earths and precious metals. The method and / or apparatus can also be used in mining applications for transporting, extracting and processing crushed or powdered ore metals and minerals. The method and / or apparatus can be utilized for the chemical treatment of the material to be processed in liquids or gaseous liquids. There are also applications in the coating of particles, articles, parts and other pieces of various sizes, in surface removal and in the recovery of metals in ionic form in a liquid by electrolytic methods. The method and / or apparatus also have applications in electrochemical syntheses, fluidized bed applications, electropolishing, anodizing, electrophoretic polymer coating, and / or physical coating applications. The method and equipment can be used, for example, to utilize electrochemical methods for coating materials, removing the coating and / or cleaning. Examples

S | 25 —Exemplary implementations are described in more detail below with reference to Figures 1-14 and the numbering used therein. O The material to be treated (7) is moved in at least one closed transport tube (12, 51) by at least one handling tank, such as a processing tank (29), a N rinsing tank (30), a storage and / or waste tank (31), and a dosing system (34). = 30 -. In one example, the device arrangement comprises and / or is arranged to receive at least one transport capsule (10) comprising a perforated or partially open (3) hollow cylinder (2). Cover parts (1), at least one of which can be opened, may be attached to one or both ends of the cylinder. The structure of the cylinder allows chemical and / or physical treatment of the material (7) to be treated in the transport capsule (10). According to one example, the cylinder (2) of the perforated transport capsule (10) has sliding bearings (1b) at both ends. Exemplary transport capsules are shown in Figures 1-4. One example relates to an apparatus and / or method for the chemical treatment of a material in liquids and / or gaseous liquids.

One example relates to an apparatus and / or method for coating, stripping, cleaning and recovering metals in ionic form in liquids by an electrolytic process.

In the apparatus and method, one or more transport capsules (10) move in a hollow - transport piping (12) of a transport capsule supply and / or filling system (34), one or more process tanks (29), one or more flush tanks (30) and / or one or more between several storage and / or waste containers (31).

In the device according to one example, openings (3) are perforated in the hollow transport tube (12) in the liquid (28) of the process tank (29) and the rinsing tank (30) and / or at the portions of the transport tube (12) below the liquid surface (57). and / or access of the rinsing fluids (28) to the materials to be processed (7). In the example shown in Fig. 5, the supply and / or filling system (34) of the transport capsule (10) comprises the automatic opening of the transport capsule (10) and the transport capsule cover (1), holders for one or more transport capsules, a fixed plane (42) below the pivot plane with a passage opening (37) for the transport capsule, a rotating shaft (14) engaging the pivot plane, and a bearing-mounted hanger (13) mounted on the shaft (14). in the frame structure O 25 - (43) The motor control unit integrated in the programmable logic (19) measures the angle of rotation of the shaft and adjusts the position of the pivot plane (9) by means of the motor (17).

A transmission 7 (16) and a suitable transmission (15) are connected between the motor-driven shaft (18) and the pivot shaft (14). The filling capsule filling system (34) comprises = a material supply tank (6), a feed opening and / or a tube (8) in the tank and a vibrator (40) with an integrated vibration unit and a weight, surface height, volume measurement or material analysis a dispensing D system (41) and a programmable logic (19) under the control of which the N material (7) to be processed is arranged to be controlled in a transportable capsule (10) to be filled, an automatic closing module (11) for holding the transport capsule (10) and cover (1), arranged to close the lid of the filled transport capsule and release the holding capsule from passing into the hollow transport tube (12). The movement of the transport capsule (10) can be monitored and controlled by means of signal connections (35) between the programmable logic (19) and the sensors (33) connected to the transport pipes (12).

The process tank (29) and the flushing tank (30) can be controlled by programmable logic (19) and motor drive by a servo and / or stepper motor rotating plane (27) in which one or more docking stations and / or holders for the transport capsules (10) are located (71) for securing the capsule (s) to the turntable (27) during processing.

Mounted on the pivot plane (27) is a linear lifting / lowering mechanism (25) which drives an actuator such as a servomotor and / or stepper motor linear conductor actuator, a screw lifter or a pneumatic lifter.

A vibrator component (40) may be disposed on the shaft of the lifting member to enhance the process and a vibration damper (38) to limit the propagation of the vibration to the lifting device (25). Mounted on the shaft of the hoist is a motorized rotation mechanism for rotating the pivot plane (27), by means of which the transport capsule (10) entering the process basin or flushing basin (12) is directed to the docking stations and / or holders (71) in the pivot platform (27). A separate rotation mechanism may be positioned on the docking stations and / or holders (71) of the transport capsules (10) in the pivot plane (27) to enhance mixing of the chemical with the material to be processed (7). At the conveying and / or outgoing transport capsule (10) of the process tank (29) and the flushing tank (30) above the liquid (28), a longitudinal and longitudinal blowing air nozzle (39) can be arranged, through which the compressed air can be directed to the plane ( 27) rotating transport capsules attached to the docking stations, into which the outgoing compression air of the nozzle blows, cleaning the chemical and / or liquid residues left on the surface of the materials after processing from the material to be processed (7).

The power supply module (26) may have a plurality of voltage outputs from which power may be connected to programmable logic (19), motors (17), S sensors (33), fans (27a), actuators (25), control electronics, electrodes of the electrolysis process. cathodic supply, frequency converter (20) and / or other

For devices requiring 3 cables. 7 30 - The movement of the material in the pipe can be realized by using a mechanical pipe roller conveyor = as shown in Fig. 7a, in which the material (7) to be processed from the feed tank (6) is guided by a dosing device (8)

The tubular roller conveyor comprises a cable and / or chain (58) moved by a motor-driven conveyor wheel (52, 53, 54) inside the conveyor tube (51), to which at least one conveyor disc (50) is conveyed at a suitable distance for conveying the material to be processed between the process tank (29), the flushing tank (30) and / or the emptying or storage tank (31).

The material transport space is formed in the space formed between the hollow transport tube (51) and the conveyor discs mounted on the cable (58), and the perforation of its cylinder takes place at the process tanks (29) and the flushing tanks (30) where the transport tube (51) is perforated. An oscillation mechanism (46) may be attached to the hollow transport tube and a rotation mechanism may be mounted on a separate portion of the perforated transport tube to enhance the processes. In one example, the movement of the material (7) to be treated in the conveying tube (12, 51) is carried out in such a way that the conveyor structure moving inside the conveying tube comprises detachable and / or engaging components by automatic mechanical and / or magnetic coupling (60). or the detachable structural sections comprise a rigid cable structure (58) and conveyor discs (50). By means of such a structure, the detachable sections of the conveyor structure can be moved inside the perforated conveying tube (12) with openings (3) by means of a lifting and / or lowering device (25) into the processing tank (29) and the rinsing tank (30) for processing and after processing, the removable conveyor structure section can be reconnected to the pipe conveyor for transferring the material (7) to be processed in the transport pipe (12) to the next process step. In one example, the movement of the material to be processed (7) is effected by means of underpressure or overpressure in the transport tube (12) without the transport capsule (10). In this case, the portion of the conveying pipe (12) of the pipe roller conveyor to be immersed is perforated, and during the conveying step of the material (7) to be processed the perforations are covered airtightly by guiding the movable pipe sealing structures (73) The perforations in the transport tube are opened during immersion by guiding the sealing structures (73) away from the sealing rings (76). At both ends of the tube portion to be immersed in the liquid, a closure flap mechanism (72) may be connected to prevent the material (7) to be processed from escaping during processing.

O = In one example, the process tank (29) has a structure in which the processing tank and the liquid tank of the material (7) to be processed are separated into separate tanks. Separate = 30 - the liquid tank (68) has an inlet pipe (66) connected to the liquid pump (68) and the outlet pipe (69) of the liquid pump (68) is connected to a separate process tank (29) and the outlet pipe (70) of the process tank is connected in feedback to a separate liquid tank. During processing of the material to be processed (7) in the perforated transport capsule (10), the pump (68) pumps the liquid from the separate liquid tank to the separate process tank (29) at a suitable flow rate and the liquid flows from the separate process tank = outlet pipe (69) back to the separate liquid tank. By adjusting the flow rate of the pump (68), the height of the liquid surface in a separate process tank (29) can be adjusted. In electrochemical applications, an anode structure (4), a cathode structure (46) and power supply polar voltage supplies (44, 45) to the anode structure (4) and the cathode structure (46) may be connected to the processing tank.

In one example, the transport pipe (12) is connected vertically between the at least one process tank (29), the flushing tank (30) and the waste and / or storage tank. In one example, the transport pipe (12) is connected horizontally between the at least one process tank (29), the flushing tank (30) and the waste and / or storage tank.

- In one example, in order to move several transport capsules in parallel between the process tank (29), the flushing tank (30), the emptying vessel (31) and / or the filling system (34), the transport is carried out on multimodal lines. in the direction of. The return traffic of the fiber delivery capsule (10) is effected on the second pipeline.

- In one example, in the processing of powdered material or small particles, the perforated transport capsule (10) or transport tube (12) is lined with a reticulated material in which the mesh size is smaller than the diameter of the powdered material or particle to be processed.

In one example, the delivery and filling system (34) of the transport capsules (10) is - implemented using a line transfer technique when using a multi-line solution when the number of transport capsules (10) used in the process device is large. In one example, the driving force of the transport capsule (10) running inside the transport tube (12) is the winding of permanent magnets N and transport tubes attached to the transport capsule (10) from one or more electrical conductors. Q magnetic fields generated by voltages. The direction of movement can be selected by changing the polarity of the supply voltage to the conductors of the coils O and the movement E of the conveyor tube can be effected by connecting a positive N and a negative pole to one coil in the conveyor. = By adjusting the strength of the magnetic fields generated by the windings by adjusting the length and diameter of the conductors of the windings, adjusting the voltage and current applied to the conductors of the coil, and adjusting the strength of the permanent magnets, the movement can be affected.

In one example, electrochemical applications use a hollow cylindrical cathode structure (14) connected to a rotating shaft (18) of a motor (17) to which a negative power supply (45) of the power supply is applied and the outer edge of the cylinder (4) to which a positive pole voltage supply (44) of the power supply is connected. In one example, in the case of connection of the horizontal conveying tube (12) to the process tank (29) and the flushing tank (30), a plurality of perforated conveying tubes (61) can be applied to the support structures fixed to the rotating shaft and the conveying tubes (61) of the rotating shaft. In one example, the surfaces of the material (7) to be treated are pretreated or pretreated by a method based on the dry ice blasting technique, where the cleaning and stripping effect is based on the kinetic energy, cold temperature and evaporation effects of evaporation. Small ice-cold pellets, about 3 mm in diameter, cooled to about -80 ° C, are blown into the material to be treated (7), typically at a speed of about 150 m / s, which evaporate immediately on contact with the surface to be cleaned and remove the coatings on the materials to be processed. Such pretreatment can increase the efficiency of the apparatus and / or method. During the pretreatment of the surfaces of the material to be treated (7), the surfaces are cleaned of dirt or coatings are removed from coating materials which slow down and / or inhibit chemical and / or physical processes, such as protective coatings for electronic waste circuit boards. -, acrylic, silicone and / or urethane coatings. After removal of the coatings, the pretreated material to be processed (7) is transferred to the tank (6) of the feeder by means of a robot or a conveyor belt for the actual main processing. Alternatively, the cleaning and / or removal of the coating can be performed by mechanical means, such as abrasive blasting, wet blasting, laser treatment, abrasive treatment, or the use of surface treatment chemicals. In one example, the surface pretreatment is integrated as part of the device N and / or the method, in which case the automation of the surface pretreatment of the material to be processed is performed, for example by means of a robot and conveying the processed materials along an automated conveyor belt to the surface treatment point.

N In one example, the suction or thrust of at least one fan (27a) is used as the moving force of the transport capsule (10) in the transport pipe - (12). The speed of movement of the transport capsule (10) can be controlled by means of a frequency converter (20) connected to the fan (27a) and the transport direction of the transport capsule is electrically controlled by programmable logic (19).

In one example, the routing of the transport capsule is controlled by a motorized tube gearbox (21) with two- or more-position electronic control, in which at least one between the process tank (29), the flushing tank (30) and / or the emptying vessel (31). - In one example, between the outlets of the process tank (29) or the flushing tank (30) and the tube exchange (21), pipes (15, 24) are connected, through which the liquid (28) and the material to be processed in the transport capsule (39) through the air knife nozzle (39) 7) the compressed under / overpressure air can be controlled by adjusting the position of the pipe changer (22), the fan (27a) and the direction of its compression air - by means of electronically programmable logic (19) and by adjusting the supply air to the drive (20) using logic (19).

In one example, the perforation openings (3) are located in the transport pipe section above the liquid surface (57) in the process tank (29) and / or the rinsing tank (30), after which chemical and / or liquid residues 7) when moving along the transport tube (12) above the liquid surface.

The transport capsule may comprise a hollow cylinder (2) with openings (3) and a cover part (1) connected to at least one end of the cylinder (2) and a slip ring or sliding bearing o (1b). In one example, a cover part (1) is connected to both ends of the cylinder (2). O 25 - In one example, an electrically conductive contact surface and / or a connector (5) to which an anode or cathode conductor is connected is attached to the cover portion (1) of a perforated x transport capsule (10) used in electrochemical processes.

The structure allows the use of a transport capsule in applications of electrochemical methods.

According to another example =, an electrically conductive anode or cathode coating (4b) is integrated in the inner surface of the cylinder (2) of the transport capsule (10). In one example, a perforated (3) cylindrical transport capsule (10) provided with an openable lid © (1), sliding rings (1b) is filled or filled with the desired amount of material (7) to be processed by the filling system (34). .

The supply tank (6) of the filling system is filled with a processable material (7) which can be directed from the tank supply opening and / or pipe (8) - the vibration unit (40) to the dosing unit (41) to form the desired unit dose for.

The transport capsule (10) located in the docking station of the pivot plane (9) can be positioned by means of the pivoting pivot of the rotating shaft (18) of the servo or stepper motor (17) and the pivoting gear (15) connected to it, the motor control and the programmable logic (19) to a suitable angle of rotation at the outlet of the dosing unit of the feeder.

The automatic capsule lid opening and / or closing module (11) can open the transport capsule (10) lid (1) for filling the material to be processed (7).

The dosing unit (41) fills the transport capsule with a unit dose, after which the capsule opening and / or closing module (11) closes the lid (1) of the transport capsule - (10) and the status signal (35) indicating the ready state is transmitted to the programmable logic (19). Programmable by means of the overpressure or underpressure caused by the control of the logic (19) and the signal connections (35) connected to the programmable logic (19) at different points in the transport tube (12), the overpressure or underpressure caused by the fan (27a) connected to the drive (20) by adjusting the speed and changing the position of the tube gearbox (21) changer (22), the transport capsule (10) can be moved between the process tank (29), the flushing tank (30), the emptying and / or storage tanks and the dosing unit.

The speed of the transport capsule (10) can be suitably slowed down by controlling the frequency converter or by means of a special stop module (11) when the transport capsule (10) enters the docking stations (71) in the turntable (27) in the process tank or rinsing tank. The transport capsule is guided to the desired free docking station in the turntable by steering the turntable with motor control to a suitable position.

Programmable logic and, for example, a servomotor, stepper motor or pneumatic drive are used to move the linear lifting and / or lowering mechanism (25) and the shaft (23) and the pivot plane attached to the end of the shaft-rotating motor drive and the motor shaft vertically. 27) and transport capsules (10) located in the turntable docking stations to the liquid (28) in the process tank (29). Under the action of the liquid in the container, the material (7) inside the perforated (3) transport capsule (10) can be detached into the ionic form of the precious metal surface. 7 30 - In one example, the desired unit dose for filling the transport capsule (10) = is formed by measuring the weight, volume and / or number of pieces. 5 In this case, the unit dose weight, volume and / or number of pieces can be obtained. = The process can be enhanced by heating the process liquid, treatment tank or treatment area N with a suitable heating element and a thermostat controlling it to the desired temperature and maintaining the temperature, for example in the range 20-100 ° C, such as 30-100 ° C, 30-80 ° C, or 50- 100 ° C.

The process can also be carried out partially or completely at room temperature. Some treatments can be performed at a different temperature than others. The method can be enhanced, for example, by controlling the mechanical vibration in the turntable with a suitable vibrator (40), by controlling the motorized turntable for continuous rotation or by blowing air into the process through a pipe changer connected to the process outlet (29) , for example by means of a fan (27a) controlled by programmable logic and a frequency converter and by changing the position of the tube changer (21) of the tube switch. A vibration damper (38) may be attached to the lifting shaft (23) to prevent the vibration generated by the vibrator (40) from being conducted to the lifting equipment and the mechanical support structures connected thereto. After processing, the turntable (27) is guided by a lifting mechanism (25) above the liquid surface (65) and the vibrator (40) is rapidly rotated by means of centrifugal force and blown through a nozzle (39) at a suitable air pressure to remove the transport capsules (10). and residues of process liquid remaining in the materials (7) to be processed therein. The transport capsule is then transported to the rinsing basin according to the above principle and the above-mentioned method step is repeated in the rinsing tank (30). After rinsing, the transport capsule (10) is conveyed to the emptying tank (31), where the automatic holding and the transport capsule opening module (11) handle the emptying of the capsule from the processed materials (32). Finally, the transport capsule is transported in the transport tube (12) back to the filling system unit (34) to wait for filling for a new process cycle. The vibration unit of the vibrator (40) can be, for example, an eccentric motor, a pneumatic vibrator and / or a magnetic actuator. In one example, power is supplied from the power supply to the anode conductor and cathode in electrochemical applications by applying a positive and negative terminal voltage from the power supply to conductors (44,45) passing inside the hollow tube and through the inverted O plane to the contact and / or terminal surface (47) , which forms an electrical connection to the interface between the transport capsule lid and the anode inside the capsule? (49) and / or cathode wire (48). A hollow electrically conductive cylinder structure (46) made of, for example, steel is placed outside the transport capsule, to which one of the = terminal voltages is connected. The polarity of the terminal voltages can be selected according to the application, depending on whether the coatings are being removed or coated on metallic surfaces.

N One example uses the principle of a mechanical tubular roller conveyor for the material to be processed moving inside a hollow tube. This comprises a conveying tube (12) and a cable and / or chain moved inside it by a conveyor wheel (52, 53, 54).

(58) to which conveyor discs (50) are attached at a suitable distance for conveying the material (7) to be processed, for example between handling tanks such as process tanks (29), rinsing tanks (30) and emptying and / or storage tanks (31). In this case, the unit dose material transport space is formed in the space formed between the hollow transport tube (12) and the conveyor discs mounted on the cable (58), and the perforation takes place at the process tanks (29) and the flushing tanks (30). An oscillation mechanism (46) is attached to the hollow transport tube and a separate liquid mixing or rotating mechanism can be fitted to the separate perforated transport tube section in the fluid, if necessary - to facilitate processes. In the example shown in Figure 7b, the components of a conveyor chain of a pipeline conveyor comprising a rigid cable structure (58) and conveyor discs (50) are connected and / or disconnected during material processing by magnetic or automatic mechanical coupling (60) to allow direct conveyor for. The individual conveyor chain component is detached by means of a detachment mechanism at the perforated conveying pipe section (61) in the process tank (29) or flushing tank (30), whereby 62) and guide shafts (63) transfer the material (7) to be processed into or out of the liquid. The process can be intensified by installing a separate vibrator (40) in the perforated conveying tube (61), due to the mechanical vibration of which the processed parts move in the liquid and enhance the access of the liquid to the material to be processed (7). The process can also be made more efficient by installing a separate mixing or rotating mechanism on the perforated transport pipe section (61).

N In the examples shown in Figures 8a and 8b, the material processing tank and the liquid tank in one or more transport capsules are implemented as separate tanks. In this case, the liquid used in the process is stored in the processing tank (29) or the rinsing tank (30) and an E 30 - another separate processing tank (64) is placed in the space above the liquid surface (65). Through the inlet (66) connected to the pump (68) in the liquid (28) and any filter (67), the liquid is pumped through the pump = outlet pipe (69) to a separate processing tank (64) where at least one = transport capsule (10) is attached to the docking station or stations (71). The liquid N (28) can act on the material (7) to be processed in the transport capsule (10) through the perforation openings (3). The process liquid (28) flows back through an outlet pipe connected to a separate process tank and the flow rate can be adjusted by adjusting the diameter of the pipe.

The process can be intensified by moving the material (7) to be processed by means of a mechanical vibrator (38) or by means of a motor-driven mechanism by rotating at least one docking station (71) at the end of the shaft (23) for rotational agitation.

The vibration damping unit (38) is attached between the vibrator (40) and the support structure (43), preventing the stress caused by the mechanical vibration from being transmitted to the support structures (43), the bearings (62) and the linear lifts (25). The pump control drive can be used to control the flow rate to the process tank (64). The material (7) to be processed in the transport capsule (10) is conveyed to a separate processing tank (64) along the transport tube (12) by means of a force moving the capsule.

In the examples shown in Figure 9, the turntables (27) used in the device are utilized to increase the processing capacity.

One or more docking stations (71) can be connected to the turntable (27). The turntable (27) is implemented in a vertical and / or horizontal plane, allowing at least one transport capsule (10) to enter the docking station either vertically or horizontally.

The transport capsule (10) can be placed in the docking station (71) in a structure comprising a perforated transport tube (61), in which a separate locking structure holding the capsule in place can be mounted.

By adjusting the angle of rotation of the pivot plane, the position of the pivot plane is guided to the desired angle for receiving the transport capsule (10) at the docking station (71) or feeding it back into the transport tube (12). The turntable (27) can be controlled by motor control.

In the example shown in Figure 10, a cathode and anode supplies (44, 45) connected to the terminal voltages of the power supply are integrated in a separate process tank for driving electrochemical processes.

In one example, an electrically conductive contact surface / connector (5) and an anode and / or cathode conductor (4) are attached to the cover portion (1) of the transport capsule (10). x In the examples shown in Figures 11a and 11b, the transport capsule (10) is conveyed horizontally in the transport tube (12) to the process tank (29) and / or to the flush tank (30). I The horizontally arriving transport capsule (10) is moved into a perforated transport pipe = 30 (61) on which a linear lifting mechanism 25 (25), a sliding bearing (62) and sliding shafts (63) mounted on the support structures (43) are mounted. The design may have a separate R-controlled turntable for multiple docking stations.

The retention of the transport capsule (10) in the perforated transport tube (12) during processing can be achieved by means of a mechanical lock (72).

In the example shown in Figure 11b, the transport capsule (10) is transported horizontally in a transport pipe between the process tanks (29), the flushing tanks (30) and the waste and / or storage tanks (31).

In the example of Figure 11b, the perforated transport tube must be removed and arranged to be transferred for processing. In the examples shown in Figures 12a and 12b, the material (7) to be processed flows in a hollow transport tube or perforated transport tube (61) in a unit dose without a transport capsule (10). The perforated part of the transport tube must be removed and arranged to be transferred for handling. In the example shown in Fig. 13, the perforated transport tube (61) is made airtight during the transfer of the transport capsule or material, especially when the transfer takes place by means of underpressure or overpressure. Air seals (76) can be connected to the ends of the perforated conveying tube (61) and the perforated conveying tube (61) can be positioned by means of a linear lifting device (25) at the conveying tube associated with the process tank so as to join them to form an airtight connection. By means of a linear actuator (25) and parts of a sliding bearing (62) fixed to the support structures (43) and sliding guide shafts (63) connected to the bearings, semicircular sealing profiles - (73) can be guided to the transport tube sealing structure (76). during the movement. Correspondingly, to aid processing, the perforation openings (3) in the perforated tube (61) can be opened by moving the sealing structures (76) away from the perforated conveying tube (61) by means of a linear actuator (25) and the perforated conveying tube (61) can be lowered - - for sessing in the liquid (28) in the processing tank (29) or in the rinsing tank (30). In one example, the airtightness between the perforated conveying pipe (61) and the conveying pipe (12) is effected by means of connecting sleeves with a linear livve connected to the conveying pipe (12). The connection sleeves are guided to slide along the outer surface of the conveying tube onto the perforated conveying tube to cover the perforating openings and to form a conveying capsule (10) and / or process in the tube at the junction of the conveying tube (12) 7) during exercise.

O = In the example shown in Fig. 14, in order to recover the metals in ionic form, an electrically conductive surface is attached to the inner wall of the separate processing tank (29), to which the anode of the power supply is connected via a voltage supply (44). Connected to the electrically conductive surface are titanium-coated anode plates (4) which are evenly spaced around a cylindrical hollow cathode structure (46). The cathode structure (46) is connected to the motor shaft and by means of motor control the cathode structure rotates at a certain rotational speed. The anode voltage supply (45) of the power supply is connected to the cathode structure.

Claims (16)

Claims An apparatus for treating a solid material (7), the apparatus comprising at least one treatment tank (29, 30, 31) and / or at least one treatment area comprising treatment means for performing one of the following treatments: chemical treatment, electrochemical treatment, irradiation or visual treatment , characterized in that the apparatus comprises at least one cylindrical transport tube (12, 51) arranged to receive a unit dose (10) of material to be treated, comprising the material in a partially open transport capsule, such as a perforated transport capsule, and / or comprising a packaged or bagged solid assembly of material comprising a cohesive surrounding structure, such as a net, wire, tape, bag, or similar binding structure, the unit dose of which is adapted to the transport tube or tubes of the apparatus; a direct source (27a, 52, 53, 54, 58), wherein the transfer force is arranged to convey a unit dose in a transport tube to provide a tube conveyor, wherein - at least one transport tube (12, 51) is connected to at least one treatment tank (29, 30, 31), and / or to the treatment area for transferring a unit dose (10) of material to be treated along the transport tube to the treatment tank and / or treatment area. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the treatment tank comprises a processing tank (20) or tank, a flushing tank (30) or tank, or a waste and / or storage tank (31) or tank. S | Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises one or more treatment areas, optionally as an alternative to a treatment tank having treatment means for handling the material, and the transport tube has a perforated or perforated portion at the treatment area which can be closable and openable, through which the unit dose can be handled in the transport tube. Nn = 4. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport pipe has a perforation (3) at the treatment tank or treatment area for handling the material. O N 30 - to allow processing. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the source of the transmitting force is selected from a source of vacuum or overpressure, for example a compressed air tank, a compressor or a fan (27a); a mechanical conveyor (52, 53, 54, 58); and the source of the magnetic field. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the source of the magnetic field comprises in the transport tube one or more windings connected to the power supply, which are arranged to provide a magnetic field or fields which transmit a unit dose in the transport tube. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises one or more tube exchangers (21) connected to two or more conveying tubes for transferring a unit dose of the material to be treated to the desired conveying tube. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the unit dose of material is arranged to be transferred from the treatment tank (29, 30, 31) after treatment. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer force comprises a mechanical conveyor (52, 53, 54, 58) and the transport tube has one or more treatment areas, optionally as an alternative to the treatment tank, and treatment means for treating the material by chemical treatment , and the transport tube has a perforated or perforated portion at the treatment area through which the unit dose can be processed in the transport tube. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises processing means for performing mechanical treatment by means of one or more mechanical means, for example by means of a grinder, crusher, drill or grinder. O IS 11. A method of treating a solid material, the method comprising: treating the material (7) to be treated in at least one treatment tank and / or at least one treatment area to provide a treated material (32) that is treated with the treatment is selected from chemical treatment, electrochemical treatment, irradiation or visual treatment, characterized in that O 30 - providing an apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, - providing at least one unit dose (10) of material to be treated, comprising. in a partially open transport capsule of material, such as a perforated transport capsule, and / or comprising a compressed or bagged solid assembly of material comprising a cohesive surrounding structure, such as a net, yarn, tape, bag or similar binding structure, at least one unit dose of material to be treated (10) subjecting at least one unit dose (10) of material to be treated to at least one transport tube (12, 51) of the apparatus to transfer it to at least one treatment tank (29, 30, 31) and / or treatment area. Method according to Claim 11, characterized in that the material (7) to be treated is not in the transport capsule. Method according to one of Claims 11 to 12, characterized in that the treated material (32) is transferred from the treatment tank and / or the treatment area. Method according to one of Claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the material (7) to be treated is a material containing industrial waste or recycled material and / or metal, for example selected from: electrical and / or electronic waste, metal waste, mining material, such as ore, or material to be coated. Method according to one of Claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the material (7) to be treated is pretreated by a method based on the dry ice-blowing technique to clean the material and remove the surface layer under the influence of kinetic energy, cold temperature and evaporation. Method according to one of Claims 11 or 13 to 15, characterized in that the material (7) to be treated is in a transport capsule comprising one or more seals. to minimize the clearance between the transport capsule and the transport tube, however, x so as to allow the transport capsule to travel smoothly in the tube. 5 25 I a a Nn 00 © OF O OF