Choice Of Refinement

Kevin M. Beirne, Sabin Metal Corp., USA, advises cautious investigation of refining practices when reclaiming valuable metals from spent catalyst.

Refining and processing costs for converting crude oil into its hundreds of different components are expensive, and they are not likely to reduce in the near future. For this reason, many companies seek means of reducing costs wherever practical, which obviously enhances profitability. However, while there are many ways of achieving this, the subject of maximising returns for the remaining precious metals in spent process and pollution abatement catalysts often finds itself ‘short changed'. This is an unfortunate situation, which can be avoided, as working with the right refining organisation can be a pleasant and rewarding experience. What is perhaps more important is that the implications associated with working with the wrong refiner can be both serious and costly.