Hensel Recycling, Heraeus sign cooperation deal for precious metals

Hensel Recycling, Aschaffenburg, Germany, and Heraeus Group, Hanau, Germany, have signed a long-term cooperation contract for the processing of precious metals-containing material. Under the agreement, Heraeus will recycle precious metal containing material collected by Hensel Recycling. As part of the deal Heraeus also will be taking over Hensel’s Vino Plasma in Karlstein for the purpose. Vino Plasma operates a plasma smelting furnaces that is used for recovering platinum group metals (platinum, palladium, rhodium), primarily from automotive catalysts.

“We are pleased about this cooperation with Heraeus. Hensel Recycling is already one of the largest specialists in the recycling of automotive catalysts. We established the smelting process and made it part of our regular recycling operations. Heraeus will now vigorously pursue its industrial development. This cooperation therefore meets an important prerequisite for further growth,” says Clemens Hensel, managing partner of Hensel Recycling.

“This agreement strengthens the core competencies of both companies. Heraeus secures long-term access to new precious metal recycling streams, and with the new plasma technology, the company expands its globally leading position in the processing of platinum group metals,” says André Christl, president of Heraeus Metal Management.

Designed for the recovery of platinum group metals from catalytic converters, the plasma smelting furnace is the only one of its kind in continental Europe. The furnace is operated using an electrical plasma, which makes it energy efficient and low in emissions. The plasma furnace is primarily used to process the ceramic substrates (monoliths) of catalytic converters. These generally contain 2 to 3 grams of platinum group metals per kilogram of ceramic. The ground ceramic material is separated into collector metal and slag at temperatures far above 1,000°C. In the process, the feed material is almost completely recycled. The concentrated collector metal, which contains precious metals, is then further processed within the Heraeus precious metals cycle to recover the fine metals.