Smelting Catalytic Converters, Platinum, Palladium, & Rhodium

Join Jason on an exciting metallurgical adventure as he dives into the challenging process of recovering valuable Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) from catalytic converters. In this video, Jason experiments with various smelting techniques to extract Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium, testing different collectors such as bismuth, iron pyrite, copper, and silver.

Watch as Jason works through each smelting experiment, sharing his insights and the challenges faced along the way. After several trials, he finally strikes success using a combination of iron pyrite and silver to collect the precious metals, refining them into a single metal alloy.

The journey doesn’t end here—Jason will send off the slag for assay to determine the exact percentage of metal recovery. The initial results look very promising, hinting at a breakthrough in his method!

Stay tuned for part two, where Jason will reveal the assay results and further refine his process. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more exciting content on precious metal recovery and innovative smelting techniques!

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Underground Mining Equipment:

Complete Smelting Kits:

Fluxes:

Smelting Supplies:

Furnace Building Supplies:

Refining Supplies:

Filming Equipment:

Keywords: Platinum Group Metals, PGM Recovery, Catalytic Converter Recycling, Smelting Platinum, Palladium Recovery, Rhodium Recovery, Metallurgy, Precious Metals, Iron Pyrite, Silver Collector, Assay Results

Hashtags: #PlatinumGroupMetals #PGMRecovery #CatalyticConverter #Smelting #PreciousMetals #Metallurgy #Platinum #Palladium #Rhodium #InnovativeSmelting #Subscribe

[RTeBokkel]

There's nobody on YouTube who combines mining, milling, shaker tables, and smelting. Today, he adds catalytic converters. Because I live in his area, I will now be locking my vehicle up every night in the garage.

[MrItsthething]

I work in a plant that does exactly this. I work in the hydrometallurgical refinery where we leach the impure material and purify the Pt, Pd, and Rh. Very cool to see the smelting process on a smaller scale like this..

[downyourtube]

Looking forward to part 2. Thank you for sharing your adventures with me Sir.

[drowe]

Interesting no mention of where the cat converters came from. Where were you last Saturday night when my vehicle was robbed? JK - great show

[rockman]

Hi Jason, Awesome video! Really enjoy watching you experiment! Your explanations are easy to understand! Thumbs up! Looking forward to part 2! Stay safe! Jim

[Algorhythmz]

Jason makes me wish I lived nearby and got to go hang out and watch all this awesome stuff

[littlejason]

I saw someone said they are sending you the article, so that's great! Just FYI for future reference, many times if you email the author directly, they will send you a copy of their paper.

[tyrettke]

Love the details and watching the glassy slag come out of the Pyramid is always fun. Hope the assay comes back positively!

[CabinOnTheWater]

Edison discovered hundreds, if not thousands, of combinations that would not produce a useable light bulb until he eventually found one that would. You are working at an Eddison level, just with a different problem and material. Keep up the good work!

[mikemurphy]

Watching the smelting process is so satisfying.

[louwclaassens]

In the dissertation I sent you, there should be mention of Nickel Sulphide collection. We used a Nickel and Sulphur based flux to capture the PGM's and then mill the resultant Nickel Sulphide matte into powder. Then dissolved in concentrated Hydrochloric Acid with added Ammonium Chloride. The residues would be fine PGM powder, which could be filtered off and assayed further.

[perryderkiss]

Jason your a stud !!! The way you stick at it to find a solution is amazing ! 99 out of 100 would have given up a long time ago. I sure hope this proves out for you

[adventures-with-joe]

Jason, I'm always impressed by your knowledge and your willingness to push your knowledge to new heights! 😂😂 Thanks for the video!!

[zoomarguyable]

Have you considered attempting to extract PGE or metal build-ups from soils/dirt on/near major roadways like I-5? I read an academic article a decade ago during my undergrad (I think the article was 12-15 years old at that time) about vehicle exhaust expelling catalytic particulates. These particulates were something like 95% metallic and 5% oxidized. The majority of the metallic particles expelled landed/collected within 10m of roadways in like the top 5cm of soil depth and in roadway dust. I can’t remember for sure, but I believe the article said these particles were very fine, like sub-1-mm. I also do not remember the exact concentration values found in the soils/dust, but I do remember the values were statistically significantly (p<.05) different than the background PGE values in the sampled areas. I also can’t remember if the article discussed or explored the potential uptake or concentration of the metals in plants along the roadway. Might be worth exploring an XRF before trying to smelt a sample. I believe the article concluded that the concentrations were not profitable.

[bretcalobeer]

They are wonderful processes! Beautifully done, I love the journey.😯

[rogerdudra]

Greetings from the BIG SKY. Your recipes seem quite similar to many of my sugar cookie recipes.

[crazymaze]

Have you considered purchasing a handheld X-ray XRF gun? I know codyslab has one, whenever he goes prospecting it looks like it’s extremely useful. I would assume it could be used on slag as well. Although they’re expensive, I feel like you could make up the expense pretty quick in assay costs.

[ThomasPaine]

Outstanding video jason!
Always something new to keep the interest in mining and smelting etc!
I used to go around collecting cat cores and sending them to Cali! Made tons of money!

[MichaelRadelet]

Saw you talking to Dan Hurd at the chilliwack rock and gem show, didn’t get a chance to say hello, but just wanted to say I enjoy your videos from both your channels.

[thomaswall]

Hello, pleasure to meet you. Quite the chemistry baffle there. Can not wait for part two and I am very happy to have run into your channel. Looking forward to more. If you don't mind me asking, how did you run across the mine and how difficult is it to acquire these. Thanks again and be well :)