A novel process for recycling tungsten carbide scrap

The development of an electrochemical method for recycling tungsten carbide scrap is described. The method involves direct oxidation of the carbide at the anode of an electrochemical cell, producing insoluble tungstic acid and cobaltous ions in solution. Cobalt metal is electrodeposited at the cathode of the same cell. A description of the initial laboratory studies, together with details of the pilot plant, its operation, and the purities of the products, is presented