NARTC 2025
records to evaluate third-party lab perfor- mance. Ideally, only about 10% of exchanges should require umpire involvement. • Shipping and hazardous classification: While outsourced handlers can aid, ensure experts internally and externally manage liabilities and transport expenses, espe- cially for shipments classified as hazardous. • Spent catalyst condition: Share condi- tion reports with your engineering team to uncover insights for process enhancements and equipment maintenance. • Precious metal refiner selection: Conduct rigorous due diligence, ensuring adherence to regulatory, safety, and envi- ronmental standards through audits and documentation review. • Documentation: Maintain comprehensive spreadsheets for each PM catalyst unit, tracking usage, historical recovery, vendor performance, and precise precious metal location. In conclusion, ensuring responsible recy- cling practices are upheld combats unethi- cal behaviour and waste in the PM industry. Comprehensive knowledge of financial pri- orities, employee education, and estab- lishment of internal best practices for catalyst lifecycle management are crucial. Understand the processes and verification of how materials are sampled and treated. Above all, maintain clear understanding and transparency in business relationships. At Sabin, we prioritise long-term wis- dom and meaningful innovation. To explore further insights into precious metals and related topics, visit www.sabinmetal.com. Contact: bcook@sabinmetal.com
ers, and process engineers are encounter- ing their first catalyst changeouts annually. This underscores the necessity for your company to establish a formal, in-house programme for managing precious met- als. Utilising spreadsheets and databases to preserve historical data from each PM changeout and recovery will provide spe- cialised insights about vendors and their performance. This information is also use- ful when analysing individual reactor perfor- mance and PM losses. • Understanding contractual nuances: Many companies overlook the techni- cal intricacies of PM recovery contracts, which often contain unique terms and con- ditions. Misinterpretation of these contrac- tual details can result in significant revenue losses. It’s crucial to recognise that expenses related to transportation, PM refining ser- vices, and third-party representation pale in comparison to the inherent value of precious metals. Neglecting to consider contract spe- cifics can prove more costly than the catalyst reclamation itself. Key contractual elements that can significantly impact metal value returns or increase costs include: • Splitting limit: This defines the maximum acceptable discrepancy between buyer and seller analytical results. If results fall within this limit, the average is calculated for transaction purposes. Exceeding the limit necessitates a control sample sent to a third-party lab for resolution, known as the ‘umpire’. Standard industry practice dictates a splitting limit of 1% relative, but less scru- pulous refiners may attempt to raise this to 5% or even 10%, risking substantial finan-
Platinum catalyst vial
Laboratory microbalance
cial compromise. A 1% limit mitigates risk and enhances analytical accuracy by dem- onstrating sample consistency and compel- ling labs to replicate each other’s findings. • Lot size limitation: Implementing limits on the monetary value within individual assay lots supports control and risk management. Excessive monetary concentration in a sin- gle lot does not improve laboratory accu- racy. It is advisable for PM refiners to create multiple smaller-value assay lots (for exam- ple, €500,000) rather than fewer larger- value lots to account for standard deviation and repeatability. • Penalties and hidden charges: Some PM reclaimers include penalties in contract fine
print based on powder levels, carbon con- tent, or minute quantities of other elements in spent catalyst shipments. These penal- ties can exceed €40,000 per instance if cli- ents are unaware of these risks. To sum up these key action points for safeguarding your profits: • Contractual details: Understand the dis- tinct terminology in PM reclaim contracts and meticulously review all provisions. • Third-party oversight: Consider engag- ing witnesses for reclamation and possibly representation for catalyst manufacturing processes and reactor loading/unloading. • Third-party laboratory: Comprehend assay exchanges and maintain thorough
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