Method of recovering materials bound to a metallic substrate using cryogenic cooling

A method of recovering materials bound to a metallic substrate using cryogenic cooling, comprising:

• obtaining a primary source stream comprising a multiplicity of recyclable items, each recyclable item comprising
• a metallic substrate;
• and
• one or more target materials coupled to said metallic substrate;
• cryogenically cooling said primary source stream to form a cooled primary stream, wherein a temperature of said cooled primary stream induces embrittlement of said metallic substrate of said multiplicity of recyclable items;
• applying first mechanical forces to said multiplicity of recyclable items in said cooled primary stream to break apart said metallic substrate into pieces, and to release a first portion of said one or more target materials from said metallic substrate;
• forming a first mixture stream comprising all or a portion of said pieces and said first portion of said one or more target materials;
• feeding said first mixture stream into a first screen mesh separator to separate said first mixture stream into
• a large pieces fraction comprising large pieces in said first mixture stream that are larger than a first value;
• a small pieces fraction comprising small pieces in said first mixture stream that are smaller than or equal to said first value and larger than a second value;
• and
• a first target material recovery fraction comprising particles in said first mixture stream smaller than or equal to said second value, wherein said first portion of said one or more target materials is substantially in said first target material recovery fraction;
• reintroducing said large pieces fraction into said applying first mechanical forces;
• forming a secondary recovery source stream comprising said small pieces fraction;
• cryogenically cooling said secondary recovery source stream to form a cooled secondary stream, wherein a temperature of said cooled secondary stream induces embrittlement of said metallic substrate of said all or a portion of said small pieces;
• shattering said small pieces in said cooled secondary stream using an impact mill, wherein said impact mill is constructed of one or more mill materials that do not shatter or break at said temperature of said cooled secondary stream;
• screening an output of said impact mill with an output screen, wherein a particles stream passes through said output screen;
• mixing said particles stream with a liquid to form a second mixture stream, wherein said liquid comprises an electrolyte and a surfactant;
• feeding said second mixture stream into an electrically grounded unit, wherein said electrically grounded unit is configured to agitate said second mixture stream and to dissipate electrical charge on particles in said second mixture stream;
• feeding said second mixture stream into a second screen mesh separator to separate said mixture stream into a first final fraction containing metallic residue, and a second final fraction containing a second portion of said one or more target materials;
• feeding said second final fraction into a settling tank;
• waiting for said second portion of said one or more target materials to settle to a bottom of said settling tank;
• evacuating liquid from a top of said settling tank to form a filter cake;
• and,
• drying said filter cake with heat.

A method of recovering materials bound to a metallic substrate using cryogenic cooling, comprising:

• obtaining a source stream comprising a multiplicity of recyclable items, each recyclable item comprising
• a metallic substrate;
• and
• one or more target materials coupled to said metallic substrate,
• wherein
• said each recyclable item comprises all or a portion of a metallic substrate;
• and,
• said one or more target materials comprise one or more of platinum, palladium, and rhodium;
• cryogenically cooling said source stream to form a cooled stream, wherein a temperature of said cooled stream induces embrittlement of said metallic substrate of said multiplicity of recyclable items;
• applying mechanical forces to said multiplicity of recyclable items in said cooled stream to break apart said metallic substrate into pieces, and to release all or a portion of said one or more target materials from said metallic substrate;
• forming a mixture stream comprising all or a portion of said pieces and said all or a portion of said one or more target materials;
• feeding said mixture stream into a separator to separate said mixture stream into one or more first fractions containing said all or a portion of said pieces, and one or more second fractions containing said all or a portion of said one or more target materials,
• wherein
• said applying mechanical forces to said multiplicity of recyclable items in said cooled stream comprises
• crushing an outer can casing of said each recyclable item to form crushed material;
• and,
• shredding said crushed material to form shredded material and to release said all or a portion of said one or more target materials from said crushed material;
• said mixture stream comprises said shredded material and said all or a portion of said one or more target materials;
• said separator comprises a top screen comprising a first mesh size, and a bottom screen comprising a second mesh size greater than said first mesh size;
• said one or more second fractions containing said all or a portion of said one or more target materials comprise particles in said mixture stream that pass through said top screen and said bottom screen;
• and,
• said one or more first fractions containing said all or a portion of said pieces comprise
• a large pieces fraction that does not pass through said top screen;
• and
• a small pieces fraction that passes through said top screen and does not pass through said bottom screen;
• reintroducing said large pieces fraction into said shredding;
• and,
• processing said small pieces fraction in a secondary recovery process to recover an additional quantity of said one or more target materials that is bound to said small pieces fraction.