A Precious Resource

When catalysts based on platinum, palladium and other precious metals lose their effectiveness, their remaining value will still affect your bottom line. Here are some tips for getting the best from catalyst recycling.

Catalysts containing precious metals are used in many pharmaceutical and chemical processes, such as in hydrogenation and to remove volatile substances from exhaust gases. Most catalysts lose their effectiveness after a maximum of five or six years in service, at which point it is worth disposing of them with care. With platinum currently worth around $800 per troy ounce (31 g), spent catalysts can represent a serious investment. An increasing number of catalyst users are making a determined effort to cut their costs by setting up independent asset recovery programs or departments that function as profit centers for the recovery of precious metals.

For many catalyst users, working with a company that specializes in refining precious metals is the most profitable approach. Your choice of refiner can make a significant difference to your bottom line, so it is in your interest to learn as much as possible about any company you are considering. How does the organization recover spent catalysts? What are its materials sampling and assaying methods, its environmental protection policies and systems? Perhaps most important, what is the refiner's reputation with its long-term customers? This article provides some background on both the technical and the financial issues.

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