Umicore

About: Umicore is a company organization based out in Brussels, Belgium. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Exhaust gas. The organization has 1253 authors who have published 1516 publications receiving 23358 citations. The organization is also known as: Union Miniere.

Recovery of non-ferrous metals from by-products of the zinc and lead industry using electric smelting with submerged plasma

Abstract: This invention relates to a single-step pyrometallurgical process for the recovery of non-ferrous metals from zinc bearing residues, in particular from by-products of the zinc and lead industry such as goethite and jarosite. A process for the recovery of metals from industrial Zn residues containing Zn, Fe and S is defined, wherein Zn is fumed, Fe is slagged, and S is oxidized to SO2, characterized in that the Zn fuming, the Fe slagging, and the S oxidation are performed in a single step process, by smelting the residues in a furnace comprising at least one submerged plasma torch generating an oxidizing gas mixture, and by feeding a solid reducing agent to the melt. The process achieves the oxidation of S and the slagging of Fe, while simultaneously achieving the reduction and the fuming of metals such as Zn.

Heat and mass transfer limitations in pre-turbocharger catalysts

Abstract: The use of the Diesel engine is increasing, while at the same time emission limits are becoming more stringent. To reduce emissions, novel catalyst converter designs have been proposed, including the placement of a small converter before the turbocharger. The role of this catalyst is to provide some reduction of the pollutant level prior to the main catalyst. This catalyst is typified by high flow rates. In this paper the performance of small catalytic converters operated at high flowrate is examined using computer simulation. The oxidation of CO is used as a model reaction. It is shown that for a typical oxidation catalyst, conversions of the order of 30% can be achieved at typical temperatures and a GHSV of 5 million h−1.

Sulfate Containing Rechargeable Battery Cathode with Oxidized Surface

Abstract: A method for preparing a positive electrode material for a rechargeable lithium battery, comprising the steps of: - providing a Li metal (M) oxide electroactive material, - providing an inorganic oxidizing chemical compound, - providing a chemical that is a Li-acceptor, - mixing the Li metal (M) oxide, the oxidizing compound and the Li-acceptor, and - heating the mixture at a temperature between 200 and 800°C in an oxygen comprising atmosphere. In an embodiment the positive electrode material comprises a Li metal (M) oxide electroactive material, and between 0.15 and 5 wt % of a LiNaS04 secondary phase. The Li metal oxide may have the general formula Li 1+a' M 1-a O 2 , with a'

Enhancement of Activity and Self-reactivation of NSR-catalysts by Temporary Formation of BaPtO 3 -perovskite

Abstract: Calcination of a Pt/Ba/CeO2 catalyst at 700 °C and subsequent reduction in hydrogen, carbon monoxide or propene at 350–550 °C resulted in a considerable improvement of its NO x storage-reduction (NSR) properties compared to those of a freshly prepared Pt/Ba/CeO2 catalyst. This behavior is traced back to the temporary formation of BaPtO3 perovskite which leads after reduction to well-distributed Pt particles in intimate contact with the barium-containing phases. The oxidation and reduction of platinum is reversible which can be exploited for the design of “self-regenerating” NSR-catalysts under lean (>600 °C) and rich (>400 °C) reaction conditions. The formation of the BaPtO3-perovskite may not only be interesting for NSR-catalysis, but generally for Pt-based catalysts where a high dispersion of Pt is important.

Reuse of LiCoO2 Electrodes Collected from Spent Li-Ion Batteries after Electrochemical Re-Lithiation of the Electrode

Abstract: The recycling of used Li-ion batteries is important as the consumption of batteries is increasing every year. However, the recycling of electrode materials is tedious and energy intensive with current methods, and part of the material is lost in the process. In this study, an alternative recycling method is presented to minimize the number of steps needed in the positive electrode recovery process. The electrochemical performance of aged and re-lithiated Mg-Ti-doped LiCoO2 and stoichiometric LiCoO2 was investigated and compared. The results showed that after re-lithiation the structure of original LiCoO2 was restored, the capacity of an aged LiCoO2 reverted close to the capacity of a fresh LiCoO2 , and the material could thus be recovered. The re-lithiated Mg-Ti-doped LiCoO2 provided rate capability properties only slightly declined from the rate capability of a fresh material and showed promising cyclability in half-cells.