Catalytic Converter Recycling Strengthens Circular Supply of PGMs

[SMM Express] Researchers have identified that trace palladium impurities, rather than platinum itself, may be responsible for high catalytic activity observed in several platinum-based systems, highlighting the importance of accurate PGM identification in catalyst development. The study, “Pitfalls in Platinum Catalysis..” investigated platinum catalysts used in important carbonylation reactions. Through inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis and controlled experiments with ultrapure platinum, researchers found that palladium contamination at levels as low as 10 parts per million (ppm) was sufficient to drive the targeted transformations, while pure platinum demonstrated significantly lower catalytic efficiency. The findings challenge previous assumptions regarding platinum’s role in these reactions and highlight the need for rigorous metal purity verification when evaluating noble metal catalysts. Palladium-based catalysts remain widely used in industrial carbonylation processes, including the production of methyl propionate for methacrylate polymer applications, due to their high activity and selectivity. The study does not indicate an immediate change in platinum or palladium market fundamentals. However, it reinforces palladium’s significant catalytic capability and may influence future research into PGM catalyst optimisation. As industries continue to seek cost-effective and efficient alternatives given palladium price volatility, understanding of platinum and palladium performance could affect long-term catalyst selection strategies.

The most-traded GFEX palladium futures contract, PD2610, rose 8% intraday to close at 329.65 yuan/g, up 8.51%.

[SMM Express] Future Metals Ltd. is progressing optimisation of its Panton Platinum Group Metals (PGM) Project in Western Australia's Kimberley region following a comprehensive review of historical studies and its 2023 Scoping Study. The company has updated the project's Mineral Resource Estimate to 82.3 million tonnes at 1.6 g/t platinum equivalent (PtEq), containing 4.24 million ounces of PtEq, using a net smelter return methodology that incorporates platinum, palladium, gold, nickel and chromite. The company plans to update its Scoping Study by assessing the use of Panoramic Resources' nearby Savannah processing plant, which could reduce estimated pre-production capital costs by approximately 28% compared with constructing a new processing facility. Future Metals also highlighted Panton's unusually high platinum content, with platinum accounting for around 45–50% of its PGM basket, significantly above many Australian PGM projects. The optimisation of the Panton Project reflects growing interest in developing stable, Western sources of platinum group metals amid evolving global supply behaviours. A higher platinum weighting, combined with lower projected development costs and continued demand from automotive, industrial and hydrogen applications, could enhance the project's long-term competitiveness in the global PGM market.