Platinum (Pt) is a finite precious resource critical to a plethora of industries including the auto industry for the manufacturing of catalytic converters as well as medical, high technology, manufacturing and of course, the jewellery industries. Despite fluid supply and demand outlook and price volatility this year, Platinum is still in high global demand with the most significant long-term support in reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Higher energy prices continue could also accelerate plans to develop hydrogen fuel cells, which requires as much as 60 gram of platinum in a fuel cell.

Courtesy of Kitco

End-of-life catalytic converters are not the only source of recycled Platinum. With rising prices and dwindling profit from recycling these emission control devices, it’s definitely worth exploring other sources of spare platinum. These recyclable platinum scraps are worth considering as they can well be just as profitable. Ready? Here we go.

• Industrial & Manufacturing Scraps

Besides auto catalysts, Platinum has a wide array of industrial applications including resin scraps and high purity platinum sponge (Platinum Black) from manufacturing operations. The latter is used as a catalyst in many gas reactions such as the oxidation of ammonium as well as the ignition of combustible gases.

Platinum can also be found in industrial components, such as small nozzles that are used to manufacture fiberglass, engine parts, turbine blades and other components that are used in aerospace engines.

Sputtering targets, the cookie-like disks that contain layers of platinum and other metals, used in plasma plating operations can also be recycled and refined.

• Used Medical Testing & Lab Equipment

Platinum is a highly heat resistant and inert metal, making it a suitable material for laboratory equipment as it does not react with any chemical substances. Some common lab equipment like crucibles, vessels, tongs, forceps and triangular metal stands can be made of valuable high purity platinum alloy and easily recovered even if they are discoloured.

Pure platinum probes, catheter tips, wires and other pieces used in medical testing and procedures can be recycled and refined.

• Jewellery Scraps & Second-Hand Jewellery

Besides jewellery made of white gold – an alloy of platinum and gold, bits and pieces of pure platinum left over from manufacturing processes from jewellery factories can be collected and recycled with good profit in the current market.

• Thermocouple Wires

Thermocouples are thin wires used to monitor or remotely measure temperatures. They contain thin strands of pure platinum or platinum alloy and are used in in aerospace applications, air conditioning and heating appliances like stoves, production of wafer by semi-conductor industry as well as in the calibration of analytical instruments.

These are the types of thermocouple wire scrap that contain platinum:

• Type B, R & S Platinum/Rhodium thermocouple wire
• Type P/ Platinel II (Palladium, Platinum & Gold alloy)
• Pure Platinum Thermocouple wire

Recycle Your Platinum Scraps with BR Metals

BR Metals is an industry-leading specialist in Platinum Group Metals (PGM) recovery. We process an average 1400 tons of PGM scraps and return 80,000 troy ounces of PGM to the circular economy each year.

We make recycling your platinum scraps fast and hassle-free. Advanced payment is available upon the analysis of your platinum scraps, and we are happy to customise every transaction to meet your specific needs.

For sales enquiries, please contact +65 8127 4129 or email info@brmetalsltd.com