Hensel Recycling receives permit to process catalytic converters

Hensel Recycling, a Germany-based precious metals recycling firm, has announced that its U.K. subsidiary, located in West Sussex, has received the authorization by the U.K.’s Environment Agency to receive, store and process spent catalytic converters. The processing that Hensel Recycling UK Ltd. will be allowed to undertake includes decanning, milling, sampling and homogenization and initial XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analysis. However, the permit does not allow for smelting.

Catalytic converters were reclassified as hazardous waste in England in 2016. Prior to this, Hensel was able to perform the same operations using a waste exemption.

"We approached the consulting firm Wiser Environment at an early stage, which took us all steps up to the approval of the Environment Agency," says Frank Rettinger, managing director of Hensel Recycling (U.K.) Ltd.

With the approval, the company says it can continue to pursue its core business in accordance with legal requirements. At its Slinfold, West Sussex, site, scissors for the cutting of the steel sheaths as well as a certified patterning system are available. This consists of a ball mill and an integrated sample divider. In the preparation laboratory, the value of the catalysts can be determined by means of an XRF analysis.

During the decomposition of ceramic catalysts, ceramic dusts are formed. Over the last few years, this has led to the classification of hazardous catalysts as hazardous waste in many countries. For this reason, Hensel says it is important to ensure that the dusts are kept under constant vacuum and that various work safety regulations must be observed. A process that has been a matter of course at Hensel Recycling since its founding in 1998 at all its processing locations.