Platinum group metals (PGM) are six elements that have very similar chemical properties, consisting of: platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), rhodium (Rh), iridium (Ir), ruthenium (Ru), and osmium (Os). Mineable deposits are very rare and found in few places worldwide. South Africa dominates the primary production of PGMs with 58%, and Russia accounts for 26%, where most are by-products from nickel ores. Nevertheless, the demand for these metals is increasing globally, mostly due to high consumption as catalysts for automotive exhaust purification.
K.A. Rasmussen AS (KAR) has recently experienced an increase in inquiries regarding the recycling and refining of iridium and ruthenium. With this project, KAR has aimed to explore several innovative methods to refine these elements efficiently and sustainably.
The project has looked at various methods for the chemical dissolution of particularly Ir and Ru, which are two elements with very high chemical stability. Experiments have been conducted that look at alternative processes to today’s “Best practice”. The project has had a high degree of competence-building results for the entire team, and the elements from especially one technology have shown industrial potential and are being further developed.
The project has achieved in increasing the competence in the field of recovery of precious metals from secondary resources, especially Ir and Ru being less studied. The need for advanced characterizazion of the various waste samples is one of the clear outputs of the project. One of the innovative technologies studied has shown promising results and is under further investigations for a possible commercializazion process.
Platinum group metals (PGM) are six chemically very similar elements: i.e. platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), rhodium (Rh), iridium (Ir) Ruthenium (Ru) and Osmium (Os). Mineable deposits are very rare and found in relatively few areas of the world. South Africa dominates the PGM world production with 58%, Russia accounts for a further 26%, most of this as a co-product of nickel mining. Moreover, the world demand is steadily increasing mostly due to the high loads of PGM currently used in automobile catalysts, thus complying with the increasingly restrictive emissions legislation.
To decouple Norway and Europe from unstable suppliers, secondary material streams must be fostered. Moreover, the recovery of these valuable elements from by-products and waste streams is in good harmony with the goals of the Circular Economy towards zero-waste societies.
K.A. Rasmussen (KAR) has recently seen an increase in inquiries for producing products consisting of iridium and ruthenium, as well as capturing and producing pure quality metals of these elements. KAR does today lack the knowledge needed to efficiently digest/dissolve these elements, which is a necessity to deliver the desired service to the market.
However, efficient and selective extraction of PGM, as especially of Ir and Ru from different matrices (ores or wastes) is challenging, mainly due to their chemical properties (inertness). These elements also have a tendency to form oxides when exposed for traditional methods of extraction, thus preventing from their effective recovery and the subsequent efficiency loss in the process.
The project will focus on the investigation of innovative methods that may circumvent this problem, thus achieving good extraction efficiencies, without penalizing the purity of the recovered material and/or environmental footprint of the extraction process. Moreover, the project will bring more knowledge to a field where there are large uncertainties regarding best practice and efficiencies.
