PGM converting process and jacketed rotary converter. The process can include low- or no-flux converting; partial pre-oxidation of PGM collector alloy; using a refractory protectant in the converter; magnetic separation of slag; recycling part of the slag to the converter; smelting catalyst material in a primary furnace to produce the collector alloy; and/or smelting the converter slag in a secondary furnace with slag from the primary furnace. The converter can include an inclined converter pot mounted for rotation; a refractory lining; an opening in a top of the pot to introduce converter feed; a lance for injecting oxygen-containing gas into the alloy pool; a heat transfer jacket adjacent the refractory lining; and a coolant system to circulate a heat transfer medium through the jacket to remove heat from the alloy pool in thermal communication with the refractory lining.

A method for producing a PGM collector alloy comprising the steps of:

(1) providing (a) copper and/or silver, (b) material, which is to be processed melt-metallurgically, in the form of at least one sodium and/or potassium aluminosilicate support equipped with at least one PGM, and (c) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of iron oxides, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, sodium carbonate, and potassium carbonate,
(2) joint melting of the materials provided in step (1) at a temperature in the range of 1250 to <1450° C. by maintaining a 100:40 to 100:20 weight ratio of the materials provided in sub-steps (1b) and (1c), and a 35:65 to 80:20 weight ratio of copper and/or silver: PGM by forming a melt comprising two phases of different density,
(3) separating the upper phase of low density of molten slag from the lower phase of high density of molten PGM collector alloy by utilizing the density difference,
(4) allowing the melting phases separated from one another to cool down and solidify, and
(5) collecting the solidified PGM collector alloy.

A process for the incineration of precious metal catalyst briquettes, wherein the precious metal catalyst briquettes comprise precious metal catalyst, optionally water, and, also optionally, binder.

There is provided a method for recovering PGM, in which at least one base metal oxide selected from a group consisting of copper oxide, iron oxide, tin oxide, nickel oxide and lead oxide is added to and melted in a molten slag, and a PGM alloy contained in the molten slag is recovered.

A method for recovering gold, silver, and/or platinum from components of a fuel cell stack of a fuel cell or electrolyzer includes treating the components with an aqueous electrolyte solution and with at least one gaseous oxidant in the fuel cell or the electrolyzer in an oxidation step. In a reduction step, the components are treated with a flow of an aqueous electrolyte solution and with at least one gaseous reductant in the fuel cell or the electrolyzer. A device by which the method can be carried out has a reservoir for the electrolyte solution, a line connected to an outlet opening of the reservoir, the line having a pump, an anode inlet connection connected to an anode inlet, and a cathode inlet connection connected to a cathode inlet. An oxidant-introducer introduces a gaseous oxidant into the line. A reductant-introducer introduces a gaseous reductant and/or inert gas into the line.

A method for recovering platinum group metals, includes melting a material to be treated containing platinum group metals, under heating in a furnace, along with a copper source material containing at least one kind of metallic copper and copper oxide, a flux component, and a reducing agent. The molten metal absorbing the platinum group metals is separated from a slag oxide through difference in specific gravity. The molten metal absorbing the platinum group metals is subjected to an oxidation treatment. An oxide layer containing as a major component copper oxide and a molten metal containing as a major component metallic copper containing the platinum group metals concentrated therein are separated through difference in specific gravity. A silver content in the molten metal separated in melting under heating is controlled to 2,000 ppm or more and 8,000 ppm or less, thereby recovering platinum group metals with high efficiency.

A process for recycling and reusing supported Pd membranes includes the separation of the Pd (or Pd alloy) layer from the support by contacting the Pd membrane with hydrogen under pressure and at low temperature and then with a second gas that is different from hydrogen. The Pd layer separated from the support can then be treated to solubilize the Pd and, where appropriate, the alloy metal(s) to obtain salts that can be reused, for example in the preparation of new Pd membranes. The recovered supports are also reusable.

Process for removing inorganically and/or organically-bound carbon from a precious metal-containing composition inside an oven chamber comprising at least one direct burner and at least one exhaust gas conduit, characterised by the sequence of steps of: a) providing a precious metal-containing composition comprising fractions of inorganically and/or organically-bound carbon inside the oven chamber; b) closing the oven chamber; c) heating the content of the oven chamber by means of at least one direct burner in order to establish a temperature T1 in the range of 450 C. to 1,000 C. and maintaining temperature T1 for 5 min-48 h; whereby, once the oven chamber is closed, any gas exchange between the oven chamber and the surroundings can take place only via the at least one direct burner and the at least one exhaust gas conduit.

A process for the recovery of precious metal (PM) from PM oil, the process including combustion of PM oil within a furnace, where the PM oil is burned in atomized form.

Jacketed rotary converter. The converter includes an inclined pot mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, a refractory lining for holding a molten alloy pool, an opening in a top of the pot for introducing feed, a lance for injecting oxygen-containing gas, a heat transfer jacket for the pot adjacent the refractory lining, and a coolant system to circulate a heat transfer medium through the jacket to remove heat from the alloy pool in thermal communication with the refractory lining. Also disclosed is a PGM converting process using the jacketed rotary converter. The process can also include low-or no-flux converting; refractory protectant addition; slag separation; partial feed pre-oxidation; staged slagging; and/or smelting the slag in a secondary furnace with primary furnace slag.