The Precious Metal Loop, Costs from an Operating Company Perspective

Abstract

An operating company’s view of processes using PGM catalysts is, “What is the manufacturing process that will make specification product at a profit?” To evaluate those manufacturing economics, the “Precious Metal Loop” (Cline LW Jr, Precious metal recovery and the precious metal loop. Catalysis of organic reactions. Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, 1995) steps (A) buy the catalyst, (B) make the product, (C) ship spent catalyst to a refiner, and (D) receive the PGM settlement, represents that expense. This paper presents a description of each step of the loop, important values such as process losses and refining losses as a function of the metal and the metal’s ash concentration, detailed examples and a discussion to assess the manufacturing economics.