Method for recovering metals from secondary materials and other materials comprising organic constituents

A method for recovering noble metals and copper from secondary materials and other materials with organic constituents, the method comprising the steps of:

• removing organic components from the secondary materials and other materials with organic constituents by treatment in at least one process chamber;
• preparing the secondary materials and other materials with organic constituents for a recovery process, wherein the recovery process is configured in at least two stages, so that at least a first metal and a second metal are recoverable;
• controlling process variables of a first stage of the recovery process so that a thin fluid slag with a low viscosity, and a metal melt are formed by adding a slag generating substance;
• and, subsequent to the first stage of the recovery process, carrying out a process gas treatment with a process gas treatment system to reduce amounts of combustible gases and pollutants, wherein a total amount of organic constituents is 5-60% by weight, the process gas treatment including blowing in air to the process gas treatment system so that an off gas stream has an oxygen content in a range of 6% to 10% by volume, and wherein a Top Blown Rotary Converter having a peripheral velocity of 1 to 3 m/s is used in the first stage of the recovery process, the method further including preparing the secondary materials and other materials with organic constituents for the recovery process by comminution and presorting and characterization, wherein the characterization of the secondary materials and the other materials is dependent on the individual content of organic constituents in the secondary materials and the other materials, and mixing the secondary materials and other materials dependent on the characterization to obtain a mixed material fed to the recovery process with a constant content of organic material, and preparing and analyzing the secondary materials and other materials with organic constituents for the recovery process so that information on slag formers is used for feeding additives and operating materials so that a formation of a highly fluid slag is supported.