Catalytic Converter Recycling
The environment is constantly being affected by human activity, and this issue has become particularly acute with the development of the automobile industry. Catalytic converters, also known as catalysts or simply “cats”, serve to protect the environment from exhaust gases and are now part of every modern vehicle in accordance with environmental requirements.
Catalysts also have a service life, which is usually measured in the average mileage of the car and varies between 100-200 thousand kilometers. This variability depends on many factors, such as fuel quality and vehicle operating conditions. But even a worn catalyst has its value, and how to benefit from it by recycling will be discussed in this article.
Catalyst Device
Before proceeding to recycling itself, it is essential to understand the device and its operational principles, because this is where the estimated value lies. Invented in the 70s of the last century, the device of catalysts has not been fundamentally changed.
Structure
- The outer casing made of steel serves as a protective shell for the internal components
- Inlet and outlet connections
- Sensors for exhaust control
- Monolith is made in the shape of honeycombs and represented by through cells with a sputtering catalytic layer. Platinum group of metals: Palladium, Platinum, and Rhodium serve as chemical elements for redox reactions to neutralize the exhaust.
- Thermal casing insulation from the filler
How does it work
The gases pass through the exhaust manifold and onto the honeycomb cells, where each cell is coated with a catalytic layer. The catalytic layer of cells made of precious platinum group metals splits carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides into water and carbon dioxide by redox processes. These very metals: Platinum Palladium and Rhodium are the main value of a used cat.
Recycling stages
Extraction and Collection
The used catalysts are delivered to the recycling center in the form of a complete structure or a honeycomb monolith. If we are dealing with a whole device, the first step is to extract the ceramic core monolith using a cutting station with hydraulic knives. The ceramic core is collected for further recycling, while the body and shell elements are going for scrap.
XRF-Analysis
In the initial processing stage, the honeycomb is placed in a centrifuge to be ground to powder and homogenized. The material is weighed, and a sample is taken and compressed into a tablet suitable for an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Then, the resulting material is placed into a spectral analyzer, where the quantitative content percentage of Platinum Palladium and Rhodium is detected within a minute. After that, the precious metal content is calculated in relation to the total weight of the material to derive a preliminary grade.
Refining catalytic converter
Crushing, analyzing, and weighing are not enough to give a final estimate of value, but a refining process must also be carried out to extract the precious metal from the material. Thus, the entire batch of material is sent to the catalytic converter refinery where all the precious metal it contains will be recovered by electrolysis, leaching, and plasma furnace (Inductive Coupled Plasma machine) treatment. 90% of this raw material will be reused in the production of automotive catalysts and the remaining 10% can be used in medicine or jewelry industry.
Benefits of Catalytic Converter Recycling
Economic Value
Having gone through the full processing cycle from monolith extraction, grinding, and spectral analysis to refining, we received the pure precious metals. The price of each individual element reflects on the precious metals exchange. These metals have diverse applications in medicine, jewelry and new catalytic converters manufacturing. Hence the economic value is present as these metals are rare in nature plus hard to develop, and this is why the whole process is involved to recycle them for various applications after use.
Environmental Value
Besides, because the honeycomb structure traps pollutants from exhaust gases, disposing of it as general waste would harm the environment. Recycling is therefore not only economically valuable but also essential for preventing pollution and protecting nature.
What Types of Catalytic Converters Can Be Recycled
Catalytic converters are usually of two types:
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer): These converters are created by the vehicle's original manufacturer or an approved supplier, ensuring they meet the specific standards set by the automaker.
Aftermarket Converters: Unlike OEMs, aftermarket catalytic converters are produced by third-party manufacturers. They serve as replacement parts and are made independently of the original company that designed the vehicle’s original catalytic converter. Aftermarket converters are designed for compatibility across various vehicle makes and models, offering consumers an alternative for replacing a worn-out or faulty catalytic converter.
The different types of catalysts have different pricing policies and the are specific ways to evaluate them which we break down in the next paragraph.
How to Sell Your Catalytic Converter for Recycling with AutoCatalystMarket
Depending on which type of catalyst you have (OEM or Aftermarket) you have two options to evaluate your device on AutoCatalystMarket.
In the first case (OEM), you can get the price of your catalytic converter via serial number on the catalyst body using the search bar of the AutoCatalystMarket website. Just put the serial there and get all the necessary information about your catalyst.
If you have an aftermarket catalyst or spare parts, then you can opt for a calculator on AutoCatalystMarket to evaluate a whole batch or a single unit at hand.
AutoCatalystMarket is a convenient tool to determine the price of your catalytic converters. Here is a whole database with prices and pictures to help you do so. You can precisely calculate everything using a calculator which also reflects rates on exchange. Besides, having a serial number or photo also allows you to estimate prices.
