Recovery of valuable elements from spent YBa2Cu3O7–x/Ag composite superconductor bulks

摘要: Abstract Silver as a highly conductive metal is usually doped in YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7– x superconductor bulks to improve critical current density of superconductor. The valuable elements silver, yttrium, barium and copper waste /Ag composite were recovered, respectively. was recovered with process at first, the dissolved by nitric acid silver chloride precipitated adding acid, then pig obtained melting together sodium carbonate 1 000 °C. effective factors on recovery ratio purity studied. chemical analysis proves that ingot 95.86%. calculated be 92.56%. loss may due during filtering volatilization when are smelted high temperature. For other three elements, Y 3+ , Ba 2+ surplus liquid after recovering they separated sequence barium, yttrium step step. First, sulfate used precipitate sulfate. Then, sulfide added solution so could sulfide. During this separation procedure, it important control pH value 1–2. After that, oxalic into obtain oxalate. Finally, oxide formed burning XRD results indicate final products all single-phase compounds BaSO 4 CuS