Precious Metal Extraction and Refining Equipment Details
Different raw materials require different processing techniques. To address the issues in traditional rare metal refining, including: ① lengthy recovery processes, ② low dissolution efficiency and incomplete dissolution of rhodium concentrate, and ③ difficulties in disposing of high-concentration nitrogen oxides during the refining process, Zhengzhou Jinquan Mining and Metallurgy Equipment Co., Ltd., in collaboration with Northeastern University and other institutions, developed the “Short-Process Visual Clean Separation and Refining Technology and Equipment for Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium.” This technology and equipment have been recognized as internationally advanced by the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association and received the First Prize of the 2022 China Nonferrous Metals Industry Science and Technology Progress Award.
This project has developed efficient separation and refining technologies suitable for processing various rare metal materials, effectively simplifying the extraction process flow and improving process efficiency, shortening the production cycle, and significantly increasing the recovery rate of precious metals. A visual rare metal separation and refining equipment set that is easy to control has been developed, enabling transparent and controllable separation and refining processes and significantly reducing the amount of precious metals held up in the equipment. A multi-stage jet injection high-concentration nitrogen oxide exhaust gas treatment device has also been developed, effectively achieving zero wastewater discharge during the separation and refining of platinum, palladium, and rhodium, significantly improving the recovery rate of reagents and precious metals, efficiently treating high-concentration nitrogen oxide exhaust gases, and achieving emission values far below national standards.
Depending on the complexity of the composition of rare metal raw materials, the production cycle for platinum and palladium is generally 1 to 10 days, while that for rhodium is around 15 days. Using our company’s process and complete production equipment, the recovery cycle for palladium and platinum is 1 to 4 days, and for rhodium, it is 3 to 7 days. This improves production efficiency, shortens the recovery cycle, and reduces the capital tied up in precious metal production.
The process equipment developed in this project is suitable for recycling automotive exhaust catalysts, alumina-supported precious metal catalysts from the petrochemical industry, carbon-supported precious metal catalysts from the pharmaceutical industry, and various precious metal-containing electroplating wastewaters. As of now, this process and equipment have been applied in dozens of precious metal recycling and refining enterprises in China.
