Metal Recovery
From Liquid
Recovery from as low as 10ppm
We are specialists in recovering precious metals dissolved in solutions. These can be acid, alkalis, aqueous or solvent-based solutions. We specialise in the recovery of metals from waste streams in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
Using our innovative technology and 35+ years of experience, we can cost-effectively extract value from PGM-containing liquids that most refineries would deem uneconomical. In most cases, we can effectively recover value from liquids containing as low as 10ppm of precious metals such as Platinum, Palladium or Rhodium. Contact us now to find out how.
On or off-site
In our 35+ years of recovering Platinum Group Metals, RSBruce has developed many novel processes to meet the requirements of the materials received. Your liquors can be processed on your own site or a 3rd party site, where there is a benefit to doing so. Your PGM containing liquid does not have to be transported to our site in Sheffield, England.
Once we have extracted the precious metal, the remaining liquid can continue on its original disposal route. For example, for one of our pharmaceutical clients, we have been able to recover Platinum from 120,000 litres of chemical waste, where the metal content was under 100ppm. ( <0.01% ) once the metal had been extracted, the solvent went for recovery. We have a wide range of equipment and processing capabilities at our site in Sheffield, built up over many years, so we can offer you the correct solution, not just the solution we have!
HomCat
Homogeneous.
This catalyst is dissolved into the liquids in the pharmaceutical manufacturing process. These catalysts cannot be removed by filtration, and this is where we are specialists and offer a solution to recover these valuable metals from the waste liquors.
The Homogeneous catalysts, however, is not so straightforward, and this is where we are specialist.
In 2018 we recovered over 850,000 GBP from 200,000ltrs of solvent-based waste for one client.
HetCat
Heterogeneous.
This catalyst is in solid form (metal on carbon) and is either put into the liquid, or the liquid is passed through it in a cartridge. This catalyst can be removed by filtration, and then the metal can be recovered by thermal processing/incineration.
The Heterogeneous is the simplest to recover, and once extracted from the liquor is recovered through a thermal process such as incineration. We extracted 30,000 EUR of value from one drum for an Irish pharmaceutical client.
Other Sources
We also recover precious metals from lab wastes – we have extracted over 10,000 EUR from a pharmaceutical manufacturer’s lab that would otherwise have gone for disposal.
Other common inputs are:
Recovery of PGM’s from Bulk waste liquors
Recovery of metal from filter systems
Recovery from effluent treatment residues
Spent heterogenous and homogenous techniques
Filter media, papers, wipes and consumables
Process Residues, Sludges and Filter Cakes
Shot Blast Wastes and Overspray From PGM Coating
Electronic Equipment and Specialist Components and Connectors.
Is anything possible?
In some cases, the costs of recovery outweigh the return in metal value, so it is necessary to view each recovery on a case-by-case basis. Contact us to find out. The potential value of your waste.
