Scrap Car Catalysts
Vehicle exhaust contains many harmful compounds like carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides. Their amounts in automotive exhaust gas, which are legislated by law, can be decreased by fitting catalytic converters to the exhaust gas system. Auto catalysts convert over 90% of these harmful compounds into less harmful carbon dioxide and water vapor.
Electric car sales are forecast to reach 56 million by 2040, making up about 57% of overall car market versus less than 2% now. This means that till electric cars dominate the market, all vehicles need to be produced with autocatalysts and these catalysts will be in the waste stream for the next 20-25 years.
Platinum, palladium, and rhodium are the essential constituents of these automotive catalysts. Nowadays no cheaper materials are available that offer similar properties for these kinds of catalytic reactions.
Based on the facts that every new car has to be equipped with a catalytic converter and the number of car registrations is steadily increasing, the demand for platinum group metals (PGMs), will grow continuously.
Taking into account that one catalytic converter contains approximately from 1 g up to 15 g of PGMs, it could be easily supposed that this field represents the main application for palladium, platinum and rhodium. This is why we need to collect and re use the precious metals inside auto catalysts.
GCL collects auto catalysts in many countries and recycles them for precious metals recovery through its solution partners in Europe and Japan. We also purchase from our customers or recycle catalysts on our customers behalf at these refineries.
Benefits of working with GCL:
1. High precious metals recovery
2. Quick analysis and payment time
3. Low refining charges and commissions
4. Transparent and reliable process
Recycling Process
Within 3 business days upon the delivery of the catalysts to the refinery, sampling and x-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) will be available to our customers. Based on this quick analysis, we pay 80% of the value as down payment to our customers.
Chemical Analysis (ICP) which will determine the exact value is usually available 7-10 days after the XRF analysis. Full reports and calculations are sent to customers and remaining balance is paid on the same day.
Industrial Catalysts
Many industries such as biogas plants, oil refineries, coffee roasting plants use a wide variety of catalysts to reduce emissions. Similar to auto catalysts, due to their outstanding physical properties, precious metals such as platinum, palladium are used in the industrial applications.
Value for these group of catalysts should only be determined by chemical analysis as XRF devices calibrated for car catalysts may show very different results than the real value. GCL provides refining services for customers with spent industrial catalysts.
Please contact us for more information about catalyst recycling.