Partners in profitability

Regular recovery of platinum and rhodium losses in nitric acid plants has become a significant factor in overall plant economics. Alan E. Heywood of Sabin Metal Corp. presents a general overview of the causes of PGM losses, the recovery of these valuable precious metals, and the sampling and refining procedures used to maximise their recovery

Click here for full story

Methods to evaluate, select, and work with a precious metals refiner

Click here for full story

Precious Metal Matters

Kevin M. Beirne,Sabin Metal Corp, USA,examines how metal scavenging techniques help deliver added value when recovering PGMs from spent hydrocarbon processing catalysts.

Click here for full story

Recovery of Precious Metals
in Spent Process Catalysts

Catalysts are important tools in the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Recovery of precious-metal catalysts from a pharmaceutical manufacturing process is a factor in cost control and environmental compliance. Part of this process may involve the selection of a precious- metal refiner that partners with a pharmaceutical company to perform the recovery process. The author identifies the selection criteria for a precious-metal refiner and best practices for precious-metal catalyst recovery.

Click here for full story.

Recover precious metals
from spent catalysts

Yield … yield … yield.
An alternative approach to enhanced profits.

INCREASING YIELDS FOR PRODUCERS AND USERS OF HYBRID MICROELECTRONIC materials, circuits, and packages will likely always be a major concern. There are many ways to maximize yields, including reducing waste at the materials formulation stage, during printing and firing, or by producing hybrid packages that always meet precise performance specifications. Since these cannot always be achieved in practice, a real solution is to increase your return of precious metals generated by parts rejects from hybrid circuits, ICs, interconnects, ceramic packages, and thick- and thin-film materials. This article discusses how you can achieve this goal, mainly by learning about the processes and procedures used at your precious metals refiner for refining and recovering precious metals, and being aware of environmental concerns associated with the processes.

Click here for full story

Sabin Metal Sizes Up Catalysts

SABIN METAL CORP. IS THE LARGEST PRIVATELY OWNED PRECIOUS METALS REFINER in the United States. In the past 55 years the company has grown to an international organization that recovers and refines precious metals that include gold, silver, platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, and other exotic metals. This article profiles the company, providing a brief history as well as insightful comments by its president, who has a very strong commitment to environmental protection, devoting much of his spare time to a variety of environmental protection and conservation organizations.

Click here for full story

Reclaiming/recovering precious metals from metal-finishing and plating operations

METAL PLATERS FACE A NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS and are under increasing pressure from many directions, including environmental enforcement agencies and their concern for proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials. Virtually all metal platers have relationships with refiners who recover precious metals from plated parts, fixtures, solutions, and other materials. This article discusses the legal implications associated with selecting and working with a refiner, and includes a case history of how a productive, mutually rewarding precious metal recovery program works for a manufacturer of electronics and electrical products.

Click here for full story

Simply Sampling

Robert T. Jacobsen, Sabin Metal Corp., USA, argues that a thorough understanding of sampling processes is the key to determining the precious metals content of spent catalyst materials

Click here for full story.

Removing Contaminants
From Spent Precious Metal Bearing Catalysts

"Pre-burning" prior to recovery/refining enhances sampling accuracy for higher returns of remaining precious metals

Click here for full story

Precious metals: recovery pays

Proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells use significant quantities of precious metals.Developers and manufacturers must work closely with the precious-metals refining industry to recover those assets from spent catalyst materials.

Pharmaceutical Catalyst Recovery

How to select—and work with—the right refiner
to help maximize returns and assure
environmental compliance

Reclaim precious metals from spent catalysts with zero discharge

IN THE HYDROCARBON PROCESSING INDUSTRY, catalysts that contain platinum group metals (PGMs) are widely used for facilitating production processes and for controlling/abating harmful or unlawful exhaust emissions for end-of-pipe applications. Most chemical/petrochemical and other hydrocarbon processors use fixed-bed reaction catalysts. Since virtually all of these organizations also work with precious metals refiners, they should be aware of the implications associated with refining and processing with regard to recovering maximum value for spent precious metal bearing materials. Companies should avoid legal problems associated with environmental laws or regulations, and be aware of processing turnaround time which has a major affect on costs of precious metals used for catalytic processes. These issues are covered in this article.

Recovering spent precious metal catalysts: environmental and legal considerations

PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS USE PRECIOUS METAL CATALYSTS for a wide variety of applications to facilitate reactions and to prevent atmospheric emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). If you are involved in pharmaceutical processing, this article can help you determine how to select a precious metals refiner, how to work with a precious metals refiner, and how a precious metals refiner can eliminate possible liability issues with regard to environmental regulations. A case study describing Bristol-Myers Squibb’s experience is also included.

Maximizing returns from precious metal bearing catalysts - your refiner holds the keys

Wildly escalating values of PGMs -- particularly the platinum and palladium used in catalytic processes and pollution abatement applications ñ have increased costs significantly for many users. As prices for PGMs rise, recovery/refining processing turnaround time increase, and lease rates move up, you have the makings of a classic profit squeeze. While any one of these factors will decrease profits, the combination of all three can have a dramatically negative effect. At one point this year for example, palladium prices were as high as $1100 an ounce; while platinum prices reached a high of $650 an ounce. This article discusses how PGM users can maximize profitability through faster processing turnaround times as well as highest possible returns, based upon the refinerís precious metals management policies.

Recovering precious metals from spent catalysts – are you getting the best return?

Precious metal-bearing catalysts are used widely for pollution abatement by many industries, including chemical, petrochemical, plastics, painting/coating, and pharmaceutical, among others. Organizations in these industries use catalytic reaction technology to prevent emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Catalysts used in these reactors contain precious metals including palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, gold, and silver – individually or in combination. When these catalysts lose their effectiveness their remaining precious metals must be recovered and it is in your best interest to obtain the highest possible return for the remaining catalyst. It is also important to obtain that return as quickly as possible since refinery processing turnaround time can have a significant impact on your precious metal financing costs.

YES, MY PRECIOUS

The right refiner can add profits and ensure peace of mind when recovering and refining spent precious metal catalysts from catalytic abatement and reaction processes. By Kevin M. Beirne

Recovering and refining precious
metals from spent catalysts

In addition to obtaining the most effective expertise in precious metal recovery, serious consideration must be given to financial and legal issues that could arise when partnering with a precious metals refiner. By Kevin M. Beirne

Maximising value of precious
metals from spent hydrocarbon
process catalysts

Activities in the Asian hydrocarbon/petrochemical markets have been growing rapidly in the past decade, particularly in China during the past few years. Last year alone, China’s oil imports totaled 70 million metric tons, a 15% increase from the prior year, China imported about 28% (about 60 million metric tons) of its total oil demands in 2001, for example, and about 70 million metric tons in the prior year.

Choice of Refinement

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.

A precious resource

Catalysts containing precious metals are worth recycling carefully

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.

CATALYST RECOVERY — PART 1

When selecting a precious metals refiner, it's important to first understand the basics of sampling, assaying and environmental issues, as well as the concept of leasing metal. By Robert T. Jacobsen

CATALYST RECOVERY — PART 2

Sampling is the key to determining the precious metals content of spent catalysts, and ultimately the value of the metals. By Robert T. Jacobsen

CATALYST RECOVERY — PART 3

Pre-burning prior to recovery/refining enhances sampling accuracy for higher returns of the remaining precious metals. By Robert T. Jacobsen

Contact us today…

Sabin Metal is truly a total capability precious metals refiner, and we want you to experience the Sabin difference by working with us. We offer hundreds of years of combined experience recovering and refining precious metals from virtually any source. We also operate the industry’s most advanced analytical and processing systems. You can count on Sabin to meet all your precious metals refining requirements. If your product or process involves precious metals in any form, you can trust Sabin to meet your recovery needs and help add profit to your bottom line.

Let us hear from you today. Please click here to contact us now; if you prefer, call Cathy Bundschuh at (585) 538-2194; or write to us at Sabin Metal Corp., 1647 Wheatland Center Road, Scottsville, NY 14546; email: sales@sabinmetal.com.