Duesmann & Hensel plasma arc technology fully online

Metals recovery technology supplier Tetronics International, based in the U.K., has announced that its plasma arc technology, supplied to Duesmann & Hensel Recycling's Frankfurt facility, has gone live.  Duesmann & Hensel Recycling is headquartered in Aschaffenburg, Germany. The plasma arc technology is being used to recover platinum group metals (PGM) from catalytic converters.

Swindon, U.K.-based Tetronics says the Frankfurt plant has achieved Final Acceptance Test (FAT) status for the process that concentrates PGMs for resale by a factor of 25 times. According to Tetronics, the technology makes PGMs accessible so that they can re-enter the supply chain and be used in the manufacture of new products. Meanwhile, hazardous elements contained in the less valuable materials are treated, resulting in an approved, inert, reusable building product that Tetronics refers to as Plasmarok.

An initial agreement to develop the plasma smelting furnace for Duesmann & Hensel Recycling in Karlstein near Frankfurt was reached in 2013. The plant is fully commissioned and can process the catalytic converters from up to 1.85 million cars per year, Tetronics says.

According to Tetronics, some 500,000 end-of-life vehicles are generated in Germany each year, and more than 95 percent of the metal found in the vehicles is recycled.

The completed project represents further export success for Tetronics, the company adds. The company says it has around 13,700 metric tons of installed commercial PGM recycling capacity for converter core material per year, equalling 13.7 million catalytic converters per year. This is set to rise to 17,500 metric tons of converter core material per year in 2015, which results in around 1.2 million troy ounces of PGM per year, the company says.

"We are delighted that this plant is now fully operational and Tetronics' plasma arc technology will be delivering environmental and cost benefits to support Duesmann & Hensel Recycling's processes," observes Graeme Rumbol, CEO of Tetronics International. "This project further demonstrates that Tetronics is regarded across the world as the market leader in the recovery of precious metals and we're looking forward to continuing our strong growth path over the coming months."

Rumbol says the company's technology can be used to process a range of waste streams.

Clemens Hensel, managing partner of Duesmann & Hensel Recycling, says, "With the integration of the plasma smelting furnace in our value chain, we are significantly differentiating ourselves from classic processors in our industry."

Further, he adds, "this is an investment into the future and will allow us to react flexibly to market changes as well as to customer requirements. Along with our comprehensive technical know-how, the investment gives us greater flexibility of services we offer to our customers."