Review: Extraction of platinum group metals from catalytic converters

Abstract

Platinum group metals (PGM) are widely used in catalytic industry due to their outstanding physical and chemical properties (high-temperature stability, high catalyst activity, high heat resistance, high corrosion resistances). They are used in medical fields, electronics, oil refining, production of ammonia, fuel cells, automotive industry. Catalytic wastes are an important secondary source of metals because recycling of wastes is more economical and ecological way of metals obtaining compared to mining from ores. Spent automotive catalyst is a rich source of platinum group metals [PGM: platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh)] which contains higher concentrations of PGM than found in natural ores. This review presents the analysis of the recovery methods of platinum group metals from spent catalysts and their advantages and disadvantages. As a result, all methods were analyzed and the most promising (most environmentally friendly and economical) was pointed out.