If you decide to have your converters processed by a refiner, this is an example of how it would be done, and the methods used to do so:
decanning of ceramic converters
The decanning of (ceramic) catalytic converters, containing ceramic honeycomb bricks, involves opening the converter in order to separate the ceramic brick (or broken brick) from the steel can. This type of operation is mostly done by some form of hydraulic shear. Alternative processes include a plasma burner or a disc saw, but the latter two processes are usually limited to small quantities.
shredding of metallic converters
The shredding of (metallic) catalytic converters, containing a metallic substrate (rolled up corrugated foil), itself coated with a thin layer of metal oxides (washcoat), is achieved by passing it through one or more different types of shredders, zerdirators, hammer mills, followed by separation of various fractions of steel scrap (such as can-fraction, foil-fraction) from the precious metal containing fraction (washcoat)..
weighing and sampling of ceramic honeycomb or washcoat
Making sure that material is accurately weighed and sampled - thereby providing correct weights, moisture content and representative samples for assaying - is one of the most important steps in an assay-based transaction. The sample must be a good, homogenous, representative example of your material.
Representative samples should be assayed by both the refiner's lab and by a lab you choose. Assays from both labs can then be exchanged and compared, leading to settlement by splitting the difference or, if this is too large, relying on assays by a third party, or umpire assay.
Each recycling lot shipped to a refiner should be settled with you based on the agreements and contract agreed upon beforehand. These contracts should consider the values from recovering the (precious) metals on the one hand and the efforts needed to do this (including off-gas and waste water treatment) on the other. You should receive detailed documentation, which states the weights and quality of materials received.
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