摘要:
A method for extracting metals from metal-containing materials, especially waste, by pyrohydrolysis. The metal-containing materials which contain at least one or more of the metals from the group consisting of Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg, Cu, Sn (as Sn(0) and Sn(II)), As, Sb, Au, Ag and Bi, are made to react at 700-1100.degree. C., advantageously 800-900.degree. C., with a gas composition which at least comprises 25-45% by volume of water vapor, 0-12% by volume of carbon dioxide, 2-20% by volume of hydrogen chloride, 0-15% by volume of carbon monoxide, the remainder being nitrogen and possibly oxygen. The metals from the above-mentioned group are extracted in the form of volatile metal chlorides. More particularly, metal-containing materials are used which also contain one or more metals from the group consisting of Fe, Cr, Mn, Ni, Mg, Ca, Al, Si, Ti, Co and Zr, this last group of materials being hydrolysed, under the reaction conditions, to give non-volatile metal oxides, or remain, in the oxidic form, or form (2) a non-volatile metal chloride and therefore remain behind in the starting material.