Valorisation of all materials resulted from the complete processing of spent catalysts based on copper tetrachloroaluminate dissolved in alkyl benzene solvent type

This paper deals with an advanced procedure and plant for the recovery of useful products
(toluene and metallic copper) from organic catalyst hazardous waste, based on copper
tetrachloroaluminate dissolved in an alkyl benzene type of solvent, used for the selective
separation of carbon monoxide resulted during hydrocarbon combustion. At the same time, a
new inorganic composite coagulant made of a mixture of iron chloride and aluminium chloride
is obtained. The procedure is the object of a patent application and solves both the problems
of decontamination for a very hazardous waste type and the recovery of each component of
the organic complex under exploitable forms.