Spent autocatalyst is the single largest secondary source of platinum, palladium, and rhodium. We recover it through a documented nine-stage route where every step that affects your settlement is recorded and verifiable.
A catalytic converter holds only a few grams of Platinum Group Metal spread through a ceramic honeycomb, and the loading varies between models, between vehicle applications, and even along a single monolith. That variability is why spent autocatalyst cannot be valued by appearance, converter code, or weight alone.
Everything therefore rests on representative sampling. Material is de-canned, milled, dried, and homogenised before it is split, the protocol is documented, and referee samples are retained for both parties. The assay that follows is only as good as the sample it came from.
From there the route is conventional and proven: smelting to collect the PGMs from the ceramic carrier, then refining chemistry to separate platinum, palladium, and rhodium from one another — with a certificate of analysis linking the metal we recovered back to the material you sent.
These three are the metals actually present in automotive catalytic converters. Their proportions depend on whether the vehicle ran on petrol or diesel.
The original autocatalyst metal and still dominant in diesel oxidation catalysts and diesel particulate filters, where it oxidises carbon monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbons.
Diesel oxidation catalysts, DPFs, older petrol converters
Ruthenium and iridium are not normally present in automotive catalysts. We recover them from other feed streams, and we report and settle them only where an assay confirms they are genuinely present in your material — never as a default line on a settlement.
Not normally present in automotive catalysts. Recovered from chemical process catalysts, electronic components, and industrial residues where assay confirms its presence.
Not normally present in automotive catalysts. Recovered from chemical catalysts, spark-plug electrodes, electrolyser components, and specialist industrial materials.
Collection through to metal settlement — with the points at which you can witness, verify, or independently check the result.
Spent catalytic converters, loose ceramic monoliths, and diesel particulate filters are collected under insured transport with documented chain of custody from the moment they leave your site.
Each consignment is weighed and inspected on arrival. Lots are classified by converter type and origin, because substrate type and vehicle application drive the expected PGM loading.
The stage that determines your settlement. Material is de-canned, milled, dried, and homogenised, then split into representative samples — with referee samples retained for both parties.
Samples are analysed to quantify platinum, palladium, and rhodium content. XRF provides rapid screening, ICP-OES gives the quantitative determination on which valuation is based.
Pyrometallurgical treatment melts the ceramic carrier and collects the Platinum Group Metals into a dense metallic phase, separating them from the substrate that reports to slag.
The concentrate is dissolved and platinum, palladium, and rhodium are separated from one another and from base-metal impurities by selective solution chemistry, then reduced to fine metal.
Refined metal undergoes final analytical verification to confirm that the product meets the agreed specification before it is released.
A certificate of analysis is issued documenting the assayed grade, recovered quantity, and verified purity — the auditable record linking the material you sent to the metal we recovered.
Settlement is made against the certified assay at prevailing metal prices — either as refined metal returned in kind, metal credited to account, or cash, according to your preference.
Whole units or de-canned material — whichever suits your operation. De-canned monolith reduces transport weight and simplifies intake.
Every mechanism below exists so that neither party has to take the other's word for the assay.
You or your appointed representative are welcome to attend de-canning and sampling for your own consignments.
Samples are retained for both parties, so the result can be independently re-checked after the fact.
Where a settlement basis calls for it, we work to a client assay or an independent umpire assay.
The assayed grade, recovered quantity, and verified purity are documented and traceable to intake.
Automotive catalytic converters contain platinum, palladium, and rhodium. The proportions depend on the engine type: petrol three-way catalysts are typically palladium-rich with a small but valuable rhodium content, while diesel oxidation catalysts and particulate filters are platinum-dominant. Other Platinum Group Metals such as ruthenium and iridium are not normally present in autocatalysts, and we only report and settle them where an assay confirms they are genuinely present in the material.
Witness the sampling, keep a referee sample, and compare our assay against your own. That is the fastest way to establish whether we should be your refiner.