Automotive catalytic converters use low concentrations of high value platinum group metals (platinum, rhodium and palladium) to convert harmful exhaust gases into less harmful emissions. The metals are not consumed in this process, so motor vehicles represent a valuable resource which can be “mined”. Recovery of these metals from end-of-life vehicles is now a well-established market, but prices are volatile, concentrations of the metals are uncertain, and the various recovery stages are widely dispersed. Researchers at The University of Queensland are developing an environmentally friendly, low capital cost and low operating cost process for the primary extraction of these metals from spent autocatalysts which could be located closer to source and help to bridge information gaps between buyers and sellers.

• Investment
• Licenceⁱ