Method of reclaiming resources from golf balls

1 . A method of reclaiming inorganic resources from a golf ball, comprising:

providing an incinerator comprising a primary chamber;

heating the primary chamber to an operating temperature;

feeding a plurality of golf balls into the primary chamber;

combusting the plurality of golf balls to produce an organic discard and an ash residue;

collecting the ash residue, wherein the ash residue comprises about 2 percent to about 6 percent by weight metal components based on the total weight of the plurality of golf balls fed into the primary chamber;

using the ash residue in a rubber composition; and

forming a golf ball core or portion thereof from the rubber composition.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal components comprise zinc, barium, titanium, or a combination thereof.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating temperature is about 300° ° C. to about 1600° C.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the operating temperature is about 400° C. to about 900° ° C.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of feeding is performed at a feed rate of about 500 to about 15,000 golf balls every 15 minutes.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of collecting further comprises cooling the ash residue with water.

7 . A method of reclaiming metal components from a golf ball, comprising:

providing an incinerator comprising a primary chamber;

heating the primary chamber to an operating temperature;

feeding a plurality of golf balls into the primary chamber;

combusting the plurality of golf balls to produce an organic discard and an ash residue;

collecting the ash residue, wherein the ash residue comprises about 3 percent to about 5 percent by weight of metal components based on the total weight of the plurality of golf balls fed into the primary chamber;

extracting the at least one metal component from the ash residue;

using the at least one metal component in a rubber composition; and

forming a golf ball core or portion thereof from the rubber composition.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the metal component comprises zinc, barium, titanium, or a combination thereof.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of extracting further comprises adding carbon to the ash residue.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the operating temperature is about 300° C. to about 1600° C.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the operating temperature is about 800° C. to about 1200° C.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of feeding is performed at a feed rate of about 1 lb to about 100 lbs every minute.

13 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the incinerator comprises a secondary chamber to oxidize the organic discard.

14 . A method of recycling a golf ball, comprising:

providing an incinerator comprising a primary chamber and a secondary chamber;

heating the primary chamber to an operating temperature;

feeding a plurality of golf balls into the primary chamber;

combusting the plurality of golf balls to produce an ash residue and an organic discard, wherein the step of combusting releases heat energy;

oxidizing the organic discard in the secondary chamber;

collecting the ash residue, wherein the ash residue comprises about 2 percent to about 5 percent by weight of metal components based on the total weight of the plurality of golf balls fed into the primary chamber; and

capturing the heat energy to use in the step of combusting, in a golf ball production process, or a combination thereof.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the metal component comprises zinc, barium, titanium, or a combination thereof.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of extracting further comprises adding carbon to the ash residue.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the operating temperature is about 300° C. to about 1600° C.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the operating temperature is about 400° C. to about 900° C.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the operating temperature is about 800° C. to about 1200° C.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of feeding is performed at a feed rate of about 1 lb to about 100 lbs every minute.

21 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the incinerator further comprises a heat recovery system.