Precious Metal Cycle

Precious Metal Recovery CHEMICAL

CATALYSTS
Contents

Precious Metal Cycle:

Our Commitment to Full
Service 3

Everything revolves around powder

How expensive are the "precious cats"?
Counting on Degussa means counting
on maximum returns
The Precious Metal Cycle 4
100 % precious metal cycle -
at only 30 % investment

"Credit or Cash": the precious metal

account
Evaluating your operating costs 5

Precious Metal Recovery:

We leave no stone
unturned 6
The purer the better
Clean catalysts save money
Appropriate packaging helps
to avoid losses 7
Transportation: rules and regulations
Animportant prerequiste:
The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) 8
The 3 major steps
in the recovery process 9
Scheme of precious metal recovery 10
High recovery rates, up to 99 % 11
From an initial recovery to a reliable
balance of accounts
Fully documented settlement
of accounts

2
Precious Metal Cycle:
Our Commitment to Full Service
Everything revolves
around powder
In this brochure we will present, in an
intelligible manner, the important
economic considerations one must
understand in the use of precious metal
powder catalysts. These catalysts mainly
use activated carbon as the support. For
fixed-bed catalysts, which contain less
precious metal than powder catalysts and
often exhibit life-times of several years,
the situation is somewhat different.
Today, roughly 80 % of all chemical
products are manufactured with the help
of catalysts.
How expensive are
the "precious cats"?
Precious metals by definition cannot be
characterized as "cheap". This is why the
commercial use of expensive precious
metal catalysts can only be considered if
the contained metals can be recovered
for reuse in the manufacture of new
catalysts. This is known as the precious
metal cycle.
The precious metal remains the property
of the customer throughout this cycle.
The advantage to the customer is that
fluctuations in precious metal prices
have little effect on the economics of
his process. In addition, refining the
precious metal catalyst avoids problems
associated with disposal of spent catalyst.
Catalyst production and refining are
fields in which Degussa has decades
of experience.
Among the various catalytic systems,
precious metal catalysts hold a unique
position, because they possess unrivalled
characteristics for many different process
applications.
Precious metal powder catalysts
differentiate themselves from other
process catalysts by their high
catalytic performance (activity,
selectivity and recyclability).
Counting on Degussa means counting on
maximum returns
Unfortunately, every application of
precious metal catalyst involves the loss
of some of the metals. On average, the
losses realized in most precious metal
catalysis processes are 2 to 3 %. Losses
of 5 % or more are considered high. With
effective planning, these losses can be
minimized.
In order to maintain the precious metal
cycle, the small but inevitable losses
must be replenished by purchasing of
additional metal. To replenish the precious
metal Degussa would be happy to assist
in procuring the required quantities.
During the development of a catalytic
process and the engineering of a
production plant, the minimization of
losses should be given close consideration.
Advice from Degussa's experienced
professional staff at an early stage will
assure you of cost savings throughout
the entire scale-up as well as the final
production process.
Minor precious metal losses are also
realized during the refining of the catalyst.
The magnitude of these losses depends
on the condition of the spent catalyst and
on the precious metal contained therein.
The refining process employed is also an
important factor. Degussa operates a
state of the art and effective precious
metal recovery process.
Consulting with Degussa's experts,
gives you the opportunity to
quickly identify possible weak
points in an application or the
handling of your catalyst, and an
opportunity to reduce precious
metal losses significantly.
3
The Precious
Metal Cycle
Purchase of
Precious Metal
Weight
Account
100 % precious metal cycle -
at only 30 % investment
At Degussa, the precious metal cycle
begins with the conversion of pure metals
into the metal salt solutions required for
the production of catalysts.
The customer purchases and receives the
precious metal with the initial shipment of
fresh catalyst. After the catalyst has been
used by the customer, we refine it to
recover the precious metal contained.
The refining process takes about 10
weeks. Thereafter the amount of precious
metal has been determined and can be
credited to the customer's metal weight
account.
The cycle is complete when new catalyst
is manufactured for the customer from
the recovered precious metal. With each
purchase and use of fresh catalyst this
cycle is repeated. The amount of metal
4
Catalyst
Production
Catalyst
Application
Precious-Metal
Recovery
Customer
Losses
Refining
Losses
"Credit or Cash":
the precious metal
account
necessary for the cycle depends on When the refining settlement is made,
the customer's catalyst demand and the recovered precious metal is credited
the frequency of orders and spent to the customer's metal weight account.
catalyst shipments. It remains in this account until the
customer orders fresh catalyst.
Rule of thumb: With regular
applications of precious metal The customer has further the option to
powder catalyst, you only need close the precious metal weight account
to purchase about 30 % of the at any time by asking us to purchase the
annually required amount of precious metal balances. Delivery of the
precious metals in order to physical metal or transfer to another
maintain the cycle. depository are other alternatives.
Please note: we are prepared to
receive spent precious metal catalysts
previously manufactured by other
catalyst suppliers. While we would
always prefer to provide you with the
full cycle, we are just as happy to start
our relationship by providing you with
this service.
Evaluating your
operating costs
In order to understand the economic We would be happy to assist you in the
considerations associated with the application of this model. Let us assume
use of precious metal catalysts, the the following values for a model
operating costs can be clarified by calculation:
using a calculation model.
Annual catalyst requirement: 1.000 kg/a
The parameters of this calculation, such Amount of precious metal
as catalyst price, cost of refining, precious contained therein: 50 kg/a
metal losses, precious metal recovery Customer's
rates and interest on the working capital precious metal stock: 15 kg/a
invested in the precious metals are all (30 % of the annually used
variables that need to be adjusted to the amount of precious metal)
actual values unique to each customer. Precious metal losses: 2 kg/a
(3 % in the customer's process; 1) The recovery costs include the costs
1% in refining) for:
Catalyst price: 40 €/kg – handling and analysis: € per lot
(5 % palladium on – homogenization: € per kg net weight
activated carbon ) delivered
Recovery costs: 0.50 €/g 1) – refining: € per g precious metal credited
(per gram credited precious metal)
Palladium price: 22 €/g The actual recovery cost can vary
Interest rate 10 % p.a. depending on impurities in the spent
(for investment in customer's catalyst supplied.
precious metal stock)

Based on these assumed values, we can make the following calculation:

1. Catalyst costs:
1.000 kg catalyst x 40 €/kg 40.000 €
2. Recovery costs:
50.000 g Pd x 0,97 x 0,99 x 0,50 €/g Pd 24.008 €
3. Precious metal losses/balance by additional purchase:
50.000 g Pd x 0,04 x 22 €/g Pd 44.000 €
4. Interest:
15.000 g Pd x 0,10 x 22 €/g Pd 33.000 €
Total 141.008 €

The total 1- 4 indicates the annual operating costs for the use of 1.000 kg of a
activated carbon catalyst with 5 % Pd.

5
Precious Metal Recovery:
We leave no stone unturned
The purer the better
Spent precious metal catalysts are Rule of thumb: A spent but "clean"
valuable materials with very unique precious metal catalyst will qualify
characteristics. In addition to the valuable for more favorable refining charges
precious metal contained there is also and higher return rates.
a variety of chemical substances present
in the material.

These substances represent possible

sources of hazard for the environment
and for employees dealing with them if
they are not handled properly.

Attention to the following points will help

you avoid loss and hazards and will
ensure a smooth recovery process.

Clean catalysts save money

The spent catalyst should be as free of
residual product and organic solvents as
possible. Spent activated carbon based
catalyst should be washed and/or
steamed before packaging.
The spent catalyst should not contain
excessive moisture or standing liquid. The
lower the received weight of the catalyst,
the lower the refining costs.
The use of non-combustible filter aids is
not recommended as they will add to the
total volume and lower the precious metal
concentration in the shipped material.
High proportions of silicate filter aids can
lead to precious metals being entrapped
within silicate particles.
Please see further handling and safety
advice in our additional brochure available
to you.

6
Appropriate packaging helps to avoid losses
Spent precious metal catalysts are well
worth the trouble of packaging with
care. If they are subject to regulations
concerning hazardous materials they
must be packaged in approved
receptacles.
For all spent precious metal catalysts
used in suspension reactions we
recommend packing quantities of 25 kg
spent catalyst in polyethylene bags.
during transportation or handling. If the
drums are lined with an inner bag this
additionally ensures the safe transport
and handling of the spent catalyst.
Materials containing less precious metal,
such as filter cloths, filter candles or
working gloves, should be delivered in
separate and correspondingly identified
drums.

The individual bags should be placed in
drums. The sturdy drums that Degussa
uses to deliver fresh catalyst are usually
suitable for this use. The bags should be
strong enough so that they will not leak
Our “Provision for the Recovery
of Spent Catalysts” are legally
binding and submitted together
with our recovery offer.

Transportation: rules and regulations

Legislation requires that the producer
and forwarder of spent catalysts observe
the applicable regulations for the
transportation of raw materials and waste.
Prior to shipment, a determination must
be made as to whether the spent catalyst
or contained residues should be classified
as dangerous goods. The applicable
regulations with reference to packaging
and transport must be observed in order
for Degussa to accept the material. In
some instances a special permit may be
required.
It is usually obligatory that spent catalyst
shipments are accompanied by an up-to-
date safety data sheet (SDS) according
to the EC regulation 93/112/EC.
Furthermore it is the customer’s duty
to classify the material according to the
European Waste Catalogue (EWC) and
to observe Council Regulation (EEC)
No 259/93.
Degussa’s experienced staff is
always available to help our
customers to classify their material
according to the regulations.

7
An important prerequisite: The Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Important prerequisites for the recovery questionnaire should be sent to initiated until the SDS has been
of spent catalysts are a completed safety Degussa's Chemical Catalyst Sales completed and signed by the customer.
data sheet which describes the state of Department. A copy, along with the ship- Our documentation “Provisions and
the spent catalyst and our below ping documents should accompany the Specification for the Recovery of Spent
questionnaire. As an enclosure to the spent catalyst. Due to environmental Precious Metals Catalysts” is part of
purchase order, the SDS and the filled regulations, the refining usually cannot be our recovery offer.

Information on Spent Precious Metals Powder Catalyst

from company/plant: ......................................................................................................................................................................

in case of several lots/catalyst types per shipment, please fill one questionnaire for each lot/type
1. type of material/name of catalyst:
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................

shipping weights gross:......................................kg type and number of packing ...........................................

net: .........................................kg labelling:...........................................................................

2. Material condition: dry powder sludge filter cake

3. Material Composition (indications in weight-%, relative to original net weight delivered):

carbon catalyst: ca. ........................% solvents: .................................... ca. ......................%

moisture: ca. ........................% organic substances:................... ca. ......................%

(besides chemical solvents)
classification:.........................................................................................................

filteragents: organic/combustible inorganic/non combustible

expected precious metals (Pt, Pd, Ru etc.) other elements (Pb, Bi, Zn, F, Sn, Cr, S, P, As, Sb, Hg + combinations)

................... ca. %.................. .................. ca. %........... ............. ca. %................

................... ca. %.................. .................. ca. %........... ............. ca. %................

................... ca. %.................. .................. ca. %........... ............. ca. %................

in form of: ..........................................................................................

(e.g. salts, organic compounds, acids)
4. Properties of the material:
4.1 technical: non combustible combustible easy combustible explosive

further information: ........................................................................ flashpoint: ............................°C

4.2 physiological: harmless toxic LD 50 ........... injourious

irritant pyrotic carcinogenic

further information: ............................................................ effects: ...........................................................................

4.3 Does the Material contain halogenated, organic compounds? yes no

if yes: .....................................................................................................................................................................................

5. Precautions, which have to be observed when handling the material: ......................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................................

protective equipment and/or antidotes: ..................................................................................................................................

6. Safty Data Sheet is (SDS) available and attached: yes

7. Classification according to Transport- and Traffic-Regulations

• dangerous goods acc. to transport regulations: yes no

• dangerous material acc. to dangerous-materials regulation: yes no

• transport classification: ..............................................................................................................................................................

• labelling acc. to dangerous-material regulations: ........................................................................................................................

8. Classification acc. to European Waste Regulation: EWC-No.........................EEC/OECD-No.....................................................

We confirm that the above mentioned data are complete and correct

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................
place date authorized signature and stamp

8
The 3 major steps in
the recovery process
The precious metals contained in the
spent catalysts are recovered in several
steps. Each of these steps represents
1 Careful
homogenization
and sampling
Spent catalysts in their received form
contain widely varying distributions of
precious metals. Representative samples
cannot be taken without prior treatment
of the catalyst.
The first step in the refining process is
the homogenization of the material,
that is to treat it in such a manner that
representative samples of the whole can
be taken for metal analysis.
This homogenization is achieved by
burning the material in a controlled,
environmentally sound manner. After
burning, the resultant ash is screened
and large particles are ground. Finally,
the entire precious metal containing ash
is thoroughly blended.
This truly homogeneous ash will now
provide samples that show a consistent
concentration of precious metals by
sophisticated laboratory analysis.
Degussa welcomes customers
to audit and inspect our recovery
facilities. We are pleased to
answer questions from our
customers.
a complex process. We would like to give
you a brief explanation of them.
2 Reliable state-of-
the-art analysis
In our analytical laboratories a variety of
different analytic methods are employed
to determine the concentration of preci-
ous metals in the ash.
In addition to the classical wet-chemical
methods, Degussa utilizes the most
advanced physical methods such as
atomic absorption, x-ray fluorescence and
emission spectroscopy to ensure
that the precious metal contents are
completely revealed.
The results of analysis performed by
these methods provide a solid foundation
from which the settlement and metal
credits are determined. The metal credits
are "deposited" in a weight account
established specifically for each customer.
3 Precious metal
refining with
optimum results
The results of our analysis determine the
refining process in order to guarantee the
maximum yield of precious metal from the
ash.
"Rich" or high-grade ashes with precious
metals concentrations of 15 % or more
are dissolved by means of wet chemical
methods. The precious metals are then
successively preisolated from the
solutions.
"Poor" or low-grade ashes with precious
metals concentrations of less than 15 %
undergo a pyrometallurgical treatment.
The pyrometallurgical treatment takes
place in a furnace specially designed
by Degussa for this purpose.
After pyrometallurgical treatment, the
resulting metal also goes through a wet
chemical treatment to separate the
precious metals.
The last step, which takes us to our
desired result, is a fine purification
process. This process yields the precious
metals in the form of sponge or powder
with purities of 99.95 % to 99.99 %.
It is from this very pure material that
Degussa makes the precious metal
solutions that are eventually used in
the manufacture of new catalysts.
The cycle is complete.
9
 Scheme of
Precious Metal Recovery

Spent Spent
Catalyst Catalyst
combustible non-combustible

Ash

Precious Metals Precious Metals Customer Weight

Homogenisation
Analysis Accounting Account

Precious Metal - Precious Metal -

Concentration Concentration
>15 % <15 %

Chemical Pyrometallurgical
Dissolution Treatment

Separation of
Pt, Pd, Rh,
Ru, Re, Ir

Precious Metal
Sponge

Precious Metal
Solutions

10
High recovery rates,
up to 99 %
As previously described, the precious
metals are recovered using different
processes which are chosen as a function
of the precious metals concentration in the
ash.
As a result of the varying efficiencies
of the process, there are also different
recovery rates related to the concentration
of precious metal in the ash.
Fully documented
settlement of accounts
Degussa documents all the data relevant The amount of precious metal credited
to the refining of spent catalyst. Our to the customer's weight account is
customers can request a copy of these determined by the return rate multiplied
records. by the calculated contents.
In order to calculate the precious metal
content of a refining lot, the weight of
the ash is multiplied by the concentration
(in %) of the precious metal in the ash.

Recovery rates
PM-Concentration [%]
in the ash Pd Pt Ru Rh
> 20 % 90
< 20 % 50
> 10 % 99 99 up to
95%
< 15 % 98 98 up to
80%

From an initial recovery to a

reliable balance of accounts
The specifics of each individual refining
lot are documented in an evaluation
summary.
From this collection of data, it is possible
to recognize deviations in the composition
of individual recovery lots. This may signal
that the use and handling of the catalyst
has been changed by the customer.
This data is an important tool in the
determination of losses occurring in the
precious metal cycle.
Experience has shown that a small
amount of spent catalyst is usually left in
a customer's reaction system. Therefore,
a single lot of spent catalyst can never
be allotted to an exact amount of fresh
catalyst. Because of this, a single lot of
spent catalyst cannot provide sufficient
information to realistically balance the
precious metal cycle requirement.
Conclusive data for the precise balancing
of the cycle can only be obtained from
experience with a large number of
successive recovery cycles.
We trust that we have clarified
the important aspects pertaining
to the refining services offered
to our customers. We thank you
for your interest in the world
renowned recovery services of
Degussa. We would be pleased
to provide you with more
information. Please contact a
Degussa Catalysts Sales office
today so we can design a precious
metal recycling programme
tailored to your needs.

11
CHEMICAL
CATALYSTS

Precious Metal Cycle

Precious Metal Recovery

The information and statements

contained herein are provided free of
charge. They are believed to be accurate
at the time of publication, but Degussa
makes no warranty with respect thereto,
including but not limited to any results
to be obtained or the infringement of any
proprietary rights.

The use or application of such

information or statements is at the
user’s sole discretion, without any
liability on the part of Degussa.
Nothing herein shall be construed as a
licence of or recommendation for use
which infringes upon any proprietary
rights. All sales are subject to Degussa’s
General Conditions of Sale and Delivery.

Degussa AG
Business Line Catalysts
D-60287 Frankfurt am Main
Telephone: +49 69 218 - 27 73
Telefax: +49 69 218 - 33 92
http://www.degussa.com

South America
Degussa Brasil Ltda.
Alameda Campinas, 579
01404-000 Sao Paulo - SP Brazil
Telephone: +55 11 31 46-41 00
Telefax: +55 11 31 46-40 31
http://www.degussa.com.br

North America
Degussa Corporation
379 Interpace Parkway, Building C
Parsippany, N.J. 07054-0677 USA
Telephone: +1-973-5 41-80 00
Telefax: +1-973-5 41-80 72
http://www.degussa.com

East Asia
Degussa Japan Co., Ltd.
Chemicals Sector
Sivento Chemical Catalysts Division
Shinjuku monolith 12F
2-3-1, Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo 163-0938
Telephone: +81-3-53 23-73 60
Telefax: +81-3-53 23-73 97
http://www.degussa@co.jp