Platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, and ruthenium are some of the most valuable and supply-constrained metals on earth — and increasingly recovered not from new mines, but from spent autocatalysts, electronics, industrial residues, and PGM-bearing copper-nickel concentrates. Avimetal provides the modular plasma refining and cyclone electrowinning systems that turn these complex feeds into marketable PGMs.
PGM recovery is uniquely demanding: feeds are heterogeneous, grades vary widely, and conventional pyrometallurgical refining requires extreme temperatures and significant emissions controls. Avimetal’s Hybrid Plasma Smelting handles refractory PGM-bearing feedstocks at controlled temperatures and reduced footprint, while Hydrogen Plasma Refining provides a low-emission finishing route that selectively recovers PGMs alongside base metals through pH-controlled separation. The result is a modular, compliant, and economically viable PGM recovery line that fits inside two to four shipping containers.
Recommended Avimetal Stack
- Tornado Mill — micronization of catalyst monoliths and concentrates
- Hybrid Plasma Smelting — high-temperature primary recovery from refractory feeds
- Hydrogen Plasma Refining — low-emission selective metal recovery
- Cyclone Electrowinning System — final PGM deposition
- Precious Metal Refining Plant — pure metal product
- Containerized Modular Plant — full integration in 2–4 modules
Why Now
- Hydrogen economy and fuel cell rollout driving structural platinum demand
- Automotive catalyst recycling growing as ICE vehicles retire
- Industrial catalyst regeneration and recovery a permanent revenue stream
- PGM prices remain elevated, especially for rhodium and iridium
- ESG and supply-chain traceability favor regional, smaller-scale refining over centralized incumbents
Who It's For
Autocatalyst recyclers · Catalyst regeneration companies · Copper-nickel smelters with PGM-bearing byproducts · E-waste processors handling PGM-rich electronics · Jewelry and dental scrap refiners · Government-supported critical-minerals recovery programs
Call to Action
Request a PGM Recovery Assessment. Share your feed composition and volumes — we’ll model the recovery flow sheet and propose a modular plant configuration.