PROCESS FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL DECOMPOSITION OF SUPERALLOYS

1 - 8 . (canceled)

9 . A process of recovering valuable metals from superalloys comprising, decomposing a superalloy electrochemically in an apparatus comprising an anode and a cathode, and with an electrolysis voltage and an electrolysis current, wherein,

(i) the superalloy is used both as the anode and as the cathode,

(ii) the polarity of the electrolysis current is reversed with a frequency of from 0.005 to 5 Hz,

(iii) said electrolysis voltage is from 2 to 6 volts, and

(iv) said electrolysis current is constant.

10 . The process of claim 9 , wherein the superalloy contains one or more of the metals Co, Ni, Cr or Al as major constituents and one or more of the elements Ta, Re, W, Mo, Hf or Pt as minor constituents.

11 . The process of claim 10 , wherein the superalloy contains from 1 to 10 wt. % of Re.

12 . The process of claim 9 , wherein the electrochemical decomposition is performed in the presence of an electrolyte, and said electrolyte is an inorganic acid.

13 . The process of claim 12 , wherein said inorganic acid is an oxygen-free inorganic acid.

14 . The process of claim 11 , wherein the electrochemical decomposition is performed in the presence of an electrolyte, and said electrolyte is an inorganic acid.

15 . The process of claim 14 , wherein said inorganic acid is an oxygen-free inorganic acid.

16 . The process of claim 15 , wherein as a result of the electrochemical decomposition, the elements Co, Ni, Cr and Al are obtained as salts dissolved in an electrolysis brine, and

the elements Ta, W, Hf and Pt are obtained as filterable oxides,

so that essentially quantitative separation of the two element groups can be carried out by filtration of the electrolysis brine.

17 . The process of claim 12 , wherein said oxygen-free inorganic acid is HCl, and said electrolyte comprises 15 to 25 weight percent of HCl.