Abstract:
A BATTERY PLAGUE IMPREGNATED WITH A METAL NITRATE IS HYDRATED BY BEING SUBMERGED IN A HOT, CONCENTRATED HYDROXIDE SOLUTION TO PRODUCE A METAL HYDROXIDE DEPOSIT IN THE PLAGUE AND A HYDROXIDE SOLUTION CONTASINING A NITRATE BYPRODUCT. THE HYDROXIDE SOLUTION CONTAINING THE NITRATE BYPRODUCT IS TRANSMITTED TO A CRYSTALLIZATION TANK WHERE UPON COOLING NITRATE CRYSTALS ARE FORMED AND RECOVERD. THE SOLUTION REMAINING AFTER CRYSTALLIZATION MAY BE RETURNED TO THE HYDRATION TANK. HYDROXIDE SOLUTION MAY BE ADDED TO MAINTAIN THE HYDROXIDE CONCENTRATION IN THE HYDRATION TANK AT A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM LEVEL. BOTH BATCH AND CONTINUOUS PROCESSING MAY BE USED.