FAQ

Recycling Process:

The need for recycling is obvious:

It is evident that the quantity of the natural raw materials available to us is limited. Recuperation of the precious metals necessary for the catalysis and feedback of the steel and high-grade steel components into the raw material cycle.

What actually happens to the old catalytic converters in the recycling process?

At present we differentiate two kinds of catalytic converters:

Catalytic converters with metal substrates and catalytic converters with ceramic carriers. Both are recycled in different procedures. Therefore, the used and defective catalytic converters must be sorted accordingly on delivery into their respective types. Only then they go into the dismantling process.

Metal substrate converters

Firstly the metal catalysts are cut open in a compact process and the metal substrate coated with precious metals are separated from the stainless steel housing. Steel and high-grade steel components are collected separately and supplied to the raw material cycle. Subsequently the metal substrate is worked upon by one of the special technologies developed by ReMetall. Thereby obtained very fine alumina dust, also known as Washcoat is given for precious metal recuperation to the precious metals processing unit. The metal granulates resulting as a by-product are separated and supplied to the raw material cycle. In the precious metals processing unit, the precious metals platinum, palladium and rhodium contained in the washcoat are melted out in a complex metallurgical-chemical process, separated and finally recovered.

Ceramic honeycomb converters

Similarly with the ceramic catalytic converters, firstly the ceramic carrier is removed from the catalytic converter by dismantling the stainless steel housing. Steel and high-grade steel components are collected separately and supplied to the raw material cycle. The obtained ceramic substrates or so-called ceramic monolith is given to the precious metal processing unit. There, the ceramic monolith is worked upon and the precious metals are melted out and separated chemically.