Sampling and analysis are the key elements of the precious metal refining business. Dedicated sampling, together with the appropriate analytical equipment, is used to prepare, homogenize, and analyze a representative sample of the valuable recycling material.
All of these stages are extremely important and critical to both customer and recycler alike to determine the precious metal content of the material.
Depending on the type of material, quantity, material matrix and precious metal content involved, the correct sampling process is carefully selected. Processes including sieving, milling, melting or solution sampling are all viable possibilities.
For the thermal reduction of e.g. heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts, such as Pd and Pt on carbon and various forms of residues containing rhodium, Heraeus applies the unique HeraCycle process (link to Flowchart), thus ensuring an optimal representative sample, free from any undesirable minor components.
