IP Library Granted Patent US 12668855
Granted Patent B2
US 12668855 · App. 17/790,610 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Metal removal method and metal recovery method

Inventors: Takuma Minoura (Nagakute, JP); Jun Yaokawa (Nagakute, JP); Kazuma Hibi (Nagakute, JP); Hiroshi Kawahara (Nagakute, JP); Yasushi Iwata (Nagakute, JP); Hiroyuki Ishii (Toyota, JP); Akira Kano (Toyota, JP); Yusei Kusaka (Toyota, JP); Kyosuke Ito (Toyota, JP); Tomoo Murata (Tahara, JP)
Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO; TOYOTA TSUSHO CORPORATION
C22B21/062C22B21/04C22B26/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12668855
App. No.
17/790,610
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method with which Mg can be removed from aluminum alloy melt whose raw material is scrap or the like. Metal removal method includes processing step of forming molten salt layer in contact with aluminum alloy melt containing Mg which covers at least part of the surface of the aluminum alloy melt. This method allows Mg to be taken in from aluminum alloy melt to molten salt layer and removed. Molten salt layer contains specific halogen element that is one or more of Cl or Br and specific metal element that is one or more of Cu, Zn, or Mn. The specific metal element is supplied as an oxide of the specific metal element to the molten salt layer. At that time, the molten salt layer contains Mg. The step of removing Mg is performed by disposing a conductor that bridges the aluminum alloy melt and the molten salt layer.

Claims (24)

1 . A metal removal method comprising a processing step of forming a molten salt layer in contact with an aluminum alloy melt containing Mg which covers at least a part of the surface of the aluminum alloy melt,

the molten salt layer containing a specific halogen element that is one or more of Cl or Br and a specific metal element that is one or more of Cu or Mn,

the metal removal method further comprising removing Mg by taking in Mg from an aluminum alloy melt side to a molten salt layer side, and

disposing a conductor that bridges the aluminum alloy melt and the molten salt layer such that at least a conductive portion of the conductor comes into contact with the aluminum alloy melt,

wherein the conductor is an electrode rod.

2 . The metal removal method according to claim 1 , wherein the specific metal element is supplied as an oxide to the molten salt layer.

3 . The metal removal method according to claim 1 , wherein the molten salt layer contains Mg.

4 . The metal removal method according to claim 1 , wherein

the specific metal element is supplied from the molten salt layer side to around the conductor.

5 . The metal removal method according to claim 1 , wherein the specific metal element is Cu.

6 . The metal removal method according to claim 1 , wherein a base material of the molten salt layer is a halide of Na and/or K.

7 . The metal recovery method according to claim 1 , wherein the specific metal element is deposited on the conductor, which is insoluble in the Al alloy melt.

8 . A metal recovery method comprising a processing step of forming a molten salt layer in contact with an aluminum alloy melt containing Mg which covers at least a part of the surface of the aluminum alloy melt,

the molten salt layer containing a specific halogen element that is one or more of Cl or Br and a specific metal element that is one or more of Cu or Mn,

the metal recovery method further comprising disposing a conductor at least near a contact interface between the aluminum alloy melt and the molten salt layer to deposit and recover the specific metal element on the conductor, the conductor bridging the aluminum alloy melt and the molten salt layer such that at least a conductive portion of the conductor comes into contact with the aluminum alloy melt,

wherein the conductor is an electrode rod.

9 . The metal recovery method according to claim 8 , performed in parallel with the metal removal method according to the processing step of forming the molten salt layer in contact with the aluminum alloy melt containing Mg which covers at least the part of the surface of the aluminum alloy melt,

the molten salt layer containing the specific halogen element that is one or more of Cl or Br and the specific metal element that is one or more of Cu or Mn,

the metal removal method further comprising removing Mg by taking in Mg from the aluminum alloy melt side to the molten salt layer side.

10 . A metal removal method comprising a processing step of forming a molten salt layer in contact with an aluminum alloy melt containing Mg which covers at least a part of the surface of the aluminum alloy melt,

the molten salt layer containing a specific halogen element that is one or more of Cl or Br and a specific metal element that is one or more of Cu or Mn,

the metal removal method further comprising removing Mg by taking in Mg from an aluminum alloy melt side to a molten salt layer side, and

disposing a conductor that bridges the aluminum alloy melt and the molten salt layer such that at least a conductive portion of the conductor comes into contact with the aluminum alloy melt,

wherein the conductor is selected from (i) a conductive wire, (ii) a container body that holds the Al alloy melt and the molten salt layer, and (iii) a conductive material disposed on the inner wall of the container body.