The Importance of Recovery of PGMS from Catalysts – A Case Study of Recycling Network in Poland
09 sie 2022
O artykule
Data publikacji: 09 sie 2022
Zakres stron: 149 - 156
Otrzymano: 28 gru 2021
Przyjęty: 24 lut 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acee-2022-0022
Słowa kluczowe
© 2022 Natalia GENEROWICZ, published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Figure 1.

Result for the LCA for the secondary production of 1g of Platinium Group Metals
Impact Category | Unit | Platinum | Palladium | Rhodium |
---|---|---|---|---|
Global Warming Potential | kg CO2-eq/g | 0.63 | 0.72 | 0.84 |
Primary Energy Demand | MJ/g | 10.1 | 11.7 | 12.6 |
Acidification Potential | kg SO2-eq/g | 0.0029 | 0.0035 | 0.0043 |
Eutrophication Potential | kg PO4-eq/g | 0.00035 | 0.00039 | 0.00046 |
Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential | kg Ethene-eq/g | 0.00013 | 0.00016 | 0.00018 |
Blue Water Consumption | kg/g | 6.039 | 7.035 | 8.622 |
The recovery efficiencies of PGMs by different kinds of melting methods
Collector | Temperature | Recovery Efficiencies | Scale |
---|---|---|---|
Lead | 1 130°C | Pt/Pd>98%, Rh>95% | Industrial |
Copper | 1 130°C | PGMs>95% | Industrial |
Copper | 1 150°C | Pt 90%, Pd, Rh 82% | Lab |
Copper | 1 150°C | PGMs>84% | Lab |
Copper | 1 150°C | Pd>97% | Lab |
Iron plasma melting | >1 600°C | Pt, Pd>98%, Rh>97% | Industrial |
Iron | 1 560°C | PGMs>90% | Industrial |
Ni2S3-CuS | 1 200°C | Rh 94% | Lab |
Ni2S3-CuS | 1 050°C | Pt 90%, Pd 93%, Rh 88% | Lab |
The profile of chosen recycling companies
Company name | Scope | Range | Source | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elemental Holding | Elemental Holding S.A. invests in entities dealing with urban mining and recycling. Companies belonging to the company operate within the framework of four business areas: recycling of spent automotive catalysts (SAC), recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), recycling of printed circuit boards (PCB), recycling of non-ferrous metal scrap (non- ferrous). | Worldwide | |
2 | Umicore | It is a global materials technology and recycling Group. Activities are organized in three business groups: Catalysis, Energy and Surface Technologies and Recycling. | Worldwide | |
3 | Johnson Matthey | They are organized into four areas, aligned to the needs of customers and the global challenges. They are structured into the groups of Clean Air, Efficient Natural Resources, Health, New Markets. | Worldwide | |
4 | Remondis PMR B.V. | It is divided into three main groups – recycling, services and water. Many of REMONDIS’ companies, therefore, provide services from two or even all three areas. | Worldwide | |
5 | MONOLITHOS | In addition to recycling, the company deals with the production of catalysts. | Greece |
Result for the LCA of the primary production of 1g of Platinium Group Metals
Impact Category | Unit | Platinum | Palladium | Rhodium |
---|---|---|---|---|
Global Warming Potential | kg CO2-eq/g | 41.8 | 25.3 | 36.9 |
Primary Energy Demand | MJ/g | 464.6 | 318.9 | 414.2 |
Acidification Potential | kg SO2-eq/g | 0.934 | 1,595 | 0.412 |
Eutrophication Potential | kg PO4-eq/g | 0.025 | 0.013 | 0.020 |
Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential | kg Ethene-eq/g | 0.041 | 0.066 | 0.02 |
Blue Water Consumption | kg/g | 265.1 | 172.5 | 242.8 |