Semiprecious and Precious Metal Recycling

This blog entry explains how precious and semiprecious metal recycling can be economically beneficial and how to do so. Q&As include:

1. What are precious and semiprecious metals?

2. What are some examples of precious metals used in manufacturing?

3. What are some examples of semi-precious metals used in manufacturing?

4. Can precious and semiprecious metals be recycled?

5. What are some common sources of precious and semiprecious recycled metals?

6. How are precious and semiprecious metals reclaimed from scrap?

7. Where can you get help & advice about recycling precious and semiprecious metals?

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1. What are precious and semiprecious metals?

Precious and semiprecious metals are those that have economic value because they can be used for something (e.g., gold or copper as a conductor) or are perceived as esthetically valuable (e.g., gold or copper for jewelry). They’re also nonferrous, meaning that iron is not part of their chemistry.

A metal is precious vs. semiprecious relative to supply & demand. Thus, gold, which is relatively hard to come by, is precious. In contrast, copper, which is relatively abundant, is semiprecious.

Precious and semiprecious metals are indispensable to business and industry. They’re used in semiconductors, electronics, LEDs, photovoltaic systems, automotive like catalytic converters, and many other products. They’re also integral to many production processes (e.g., catalysts in chemical and petrochemical industries).

2. What are some examples of precious metals used in manufacturing?

• Gold & silver—for electrical conductors
• Iridium—for electrical generators, aircraft engines, and plastic manufacturing
• Osmium—as parts of alloys
• Palladium—for making electrodes  
• Platinum—widely used in manufacturing
• Rhenium—found in jet engines 
• Rhodium— found in nuclear reactors 
• Ruthenium—used in alloys to increase hardness

3. What are some examples of semi-precious metals used in manufacturing?

• Copper—for electrical wire
• Iron—for steel alloys and manufacturing
• Nickel—for metal alloys
• Titanium—in airplane engines
• Tungsten—is found in electrodes, CRT monitors, televisions

4. Can precious and semiprecious metals be recycled?

Non-ferrous metals do not lose their chemical or physical properties in the metal recycling process, meaning they can be reclaimed an infinite number of times without degrading their properties. A hunk of pure silver that’s been recycled over and over again will perform identically to its virgin counterpart vis-à-vis its density, melting point, heat & electrical conductance, malleability, and ductileness (see source).

5. What are some common sources of precious and semiprecious recycled metals?

Precious and semiprecious metals are found in jewelry and dental scrap, post-cremation implants, end-of-life electronic waste, junked catalytic converter scrap, EP catheters, x-ray film, coins, sweeping debris, and industrial residues. 

If you have these kinds of scrap to process in abundance, reclaiming their constituent metals can be a significant source of revenue. And there’s the virtue factor. I.e., recycling scrap to reclaim its precious and semiprecious metals preserves natural resources; it uses less energy than mining and refining virgin metals; and it’s good for your company’s external brand image. 

But be mindful that scrap processing to extract pure and uncontaminated metals is a complicated process; and you’ll need unbiased help to assay the actual worth of the metals you are sending to a metal recycling service. As we’re prone to advise: you should get expert advice.

6. How are precious and semiprecious metals reclaimed from scrap?

Three methods are widely used to reclaim precious and semiprecious metals for scrap metal processing, singly or together.

• Chemical leaching: In this process, a solute (the desired metal) becomes detached from the scrap by being dissolved in a specialized solvent. The impurities left behind are insoluble, and so they can be washed out, leaving the final pure metal.

• Crushing and grinding: After being pulverized, the metal is reclaimed using gravity or magnetic separation along with (sometimes) leaching.

• Incineration and smelting: Here, the metal is obtained from the scrap by heating it beyond its melting point before it undergoes further purification processes.

7. Where can you get help & advice about recycling precious and semiprecious metals?

Suppose you have significant amounts of scrap processing that you believe contain precious or semiprecious metals. In that case, Hazardous Waste Experts can assist you in assessing whether it’s fit for metal recycling services and assaying the worth of the recovered metals. 

Also, remember that extracting precious or semiprecious metals from scrap often leaves behind hazardous waste that needs to be handled per RCRA requirements. 

Hazardous Waste Experts is your one-stop source for reliable, eco-friendly, and cost-efficient recycling of unwanted computers, laptops, monitors, televisions, cellular phones, and other hazardous waste disposal that likely contain precious and semiprecious metals suitable for recycling and sale. 

Contact us today. Or call (425) 414-3485 for the metal and disposal of hazardous waste. And thank you for reading our blog!