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(11)

EP 3 538 686 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 18.09.2019 Bulletin 2019/38 (21) Application number: 17800813.2 (22) Date of filing: 13.11.2017

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C23C 16/04(2006.01) C23C 16/44(2006.01) C23C 16/18(2006.01) C23C 16/448(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/EP2017/079021 (87) International publication number: WO 2018/087356 (17.05.2018 Gazette 2018/20)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR Designated Extension States: BA ME Designated Validation States: MA MD (30) Priority: 14.11.2016 GB 201619280 (71) Applicant: Aurubis Belgium SA/NV 1000 Brussels (BE)	(72) Inventors: WOLANICKA, Lidia Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB22 3JH (GB) BURDA, Marek Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB22 3JH (GB) KOZIOL, Krzysztof Kazimierz Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB22 3JH (GB) (74) Representative: Pitchford, James Edward  Mathys & Squire LLP The Shard 32 London Bridge Street London SE1 9SG London SE1 9SG (GB)