Cody Casey
Platinum is a rare element found in the Earth's crust and is used in a variety of products, including catalytic converters. Platinum can be recovered from catalytic converters, and the process involves removing the honeycomb inside the converter, which can be done by cutting it open, breaking it up, or using a hydraulic press. The platinum can then be separated from the rest of the material through a process similar to gold panning, where the fine substance is agitated in water, causing the heavier platinum to sink to the bottom while the lighter materials are washed away. This process can also be used to pan for platinum in dirt or streams, where platinum may be present due to environmental contamination from catalytic converters. While platinum recovery from catalytic converters can be dangerous and time-consuming, it can be a lucrative endeavour for those with the proper knowledge and equipment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Material inside the cone of the converter | Platinum, palladium, rhodium, and ceramic dust |
| Platinum characteristics | One of the rarer elements in the Earth's crust, has a very high melting point |
| Platinum uses | Catalytic converters, lab equipment, thermometers, jewelry |
| Platinum extraction methods | Soaking contents of the converter in aqua regia, crushing the cone and panning, using a lot of heat like an oxygen torch or an arc furnace |
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What You'll Learn
Extract the honeycomb from the converter
Extracting the honeycomb from a catalytic converter is a process that can be done in several ways. One way is to cut the converter open and break up the honeycomb inside. The honeycomb will then fall out of the converter. In some cases, you can simply turn the converter upside down and hit it with a hammer, causing the honeycomb to fall out in chunks.
Once the honeycomb has been removed from the converter, it needs to be crushed into a fine substance. This can be done using a hammer or another heavy object. After the honeycomb is crushed, it can be panned to separate the platinum from the other materials. The panning process involves using a pie-pan-shaped container and water to separate the materials by weight. The heavier materials, such as platinum, will sink to the bottom of the pan while the lighter materials will be washed away.
It is important to note that working with catalytic converters and recovering platinum can be dangerous and should only be attempted with the proper safety equipment and precautions in place. Additionally, it is illegal in some places to remove catalytic converters from vehicles without following the proper procedures and regulations.
Another method to separate platinum from the ceramic converter is to use a rubber tub filled with water. The bags containing the converter dust can be submerged and opened to control the dust and free radicals that escape into the air. A magnet can then be used to remove any steel shavings. The remaining material can then be filtered through a series of sifters and finally through a coffee filter. The use of a clay pot as a crucible can then be used to melt the platinum, but this requires very high temperatures of around 3000 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is also possible to chemically separate platinum from the converter using aqua regia, but this is a dangerous process that should only be attempted by those with experience and proper safety equipment.
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Separate platinum from other substances
Platinum is a rare element that has a wide variety of applications, including in catalytic converters, lab equipment, thermometers, and jewelry. It is also used in the medical field, as compounds containing platinum are used in chemotherapy drugs.
Platinum can be found in the dirt and dust on the side of highways, as well as in oldsmiths' ash and waste produced during the finishing of articles made of precious metals. It is often found alongside other precious metals such as gold, silver, and palladium.
To separate platinum from other substances, one can use a combination of physical and chemical methods. Here are some ways to do it:
Panning
Panning is a simple method to separate platinum from other substances. First, crush the substance into a fine substance. Then, pan out the crushed chunks, similar to gold panning. Since platinum is heavier than many other substances, the lighter impurities can be removed by floating them away in a liquid.
Magnetic Separation
Platinum is paramagnetic, while impurities such as nickel and iron are ferromagnetic. Running an electromagnet over the mixture will attract the ferromagnetic substances and separate them from the platinum.
Heat Treatment
Exposing the mixture to very high heat can burn off or melt away impurities while leaving the platinum behind. This method works because platinum has a higher melting point than most other substances.
Chemical Treatment
Platinum is resistant to hydrochloric and sulfuric acids, while other substances are readily attacked by them. Stirring the mixture in either of these acids will dissolve the impurities while leaving the platinum intact. Another chemical that can be used is aqua regia.
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Use a pie-pan-shaped container
Panning for platinum inside a cone of a converter requires a few simple tools and the right location. The principle behind panning for platinum is similar to gold panning. Platinum is heavy, and everything else is lighter. To start, you'll need a pie-pan-shaped container, also known as a gold pan. The type of pan isn't too important, so don't worry about getting an expensive or specialised one.
Once you have your pan, load it with the crushed honeycomb from the catalytic converter. It's important to try not to break the cone when extracting the honeycomb, as separating the ceramic dust can be frustrating. If you have access to multiple converters, you'll increase your yield of platinum. This is because most catalytic converters contain upwards of two to three grams of platinum, but after about 100,000 miles, they lose about half of this amount.
After loading the pan with the crushed honeycomb, add water and agitate the mixture. The lighter materials will wash away, and the heavier platinum will sink to the bottom. You can use a sniffer bottle to suck up the platinum from the pan. You may also want to use a classifier, or sieve, to help separate the materials.
In addition to the pan, sniffer bottle, and classifier, you'll need some digging tools. A mini shovel, a small spade, and a skinny tool like a screwdriver will help you to extract the honeycomb and clean out small cracks and crevices. It's also important to protect your hands with a pair of rugged leather gloves. Finally, don't forget to bring a small plastic pail to collect your platinum concentrate and a bucket to carry your equipment and sit on while panning.
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Agitate the mixture in water
To pan for platinum inside the cone of a catalytic converter, you must first break up the ceramic honeycomb inside the converter. This can be done by cutting the converter open and breaking up the honeycomb, or by hitting the converter with a hammer so that chunks of honeycomb fall out. Once you have the honeycomb, crush it into a fine substance.
Now, to agitate the mixture in water, follow these steps:
First, fill a container with water. This can be done outside in a natural body of water, or inside using a tub or bucket. Submerging the mixture in a controlled environment, such as a tub of water, helps to manage dust and free radicals that may fly up into the air.
Next, add your crushed honeycomb to the water. The process of agitation involves the movement of fluids and solids to enhance a process result. In this case, you are using water to separate the platinum from the ceramic dust.
Use your hand or a tool, such as a rod or stick, to stir the mixture. This action will create a vortex in the water, causing denser materials to sink and lighter materials to rise.
As you agitate the mixture, the platinum will settle to the bottom of your container due to its high density. Lighter materials, such as ceramic dust, will be carried away by the water's current. Continue agitating the mixture until you have separated all of the platinum from the rest of the converter components.
Finally, collect the platinum from the bottom of your container. You may need to use a magnet to remove any steel shavings that are attracted to the magnet but not stuck to the platinum. Now, you can pan out the remaining cotton-like material, filtering it through a series of sifters and brillos until you are left with pure platinum.
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Sweep away lighter substances
To pan inside the cone of a catalytic converter for platinum, you must first separate the platinum from the black substance within. This is because platinum is heavier and can be treated like gold when panning.
The first step is to remove the honeycomb from the converter. You can do this by cutting it open and breaking up the honeycomb, which will cause it to fall out. In some cases, you can simply turn the converter upside down and hit it with a hammer, causing the honeycomb to fall out. Once you have the honeycomb, crush it into a fine substance.
Now, you can begin to pan the crushed honeycomb. This is done in a similar way to gold panning. However, due to the lightweight nature of platinum, it may be challenging to prevent it from floating away. One way to mitigate this is to use a pan with a cone shape that will help to contain the platinum.
During the panning process, you will need to separate the platinum from lighter substances. This can be done by simply floating them away in a liquid, as platinum is denser than many of its impurities. You can also use a magnet to remove steel shavings, as platinum is paramagnetic, while nickel and iron are ferromagnetic.
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Frequently asked questions
Panning for platinum inside a converter cone is similar to gold panning. First, crush the honeycomb inside the converter into a fine substance. Then, use a pie-pan-shaped container and fill it with water. Place the crushed honeycomb in the pan and agitate it in the water. The heavier platinum will sink to the bottom while the lighter materials will rise to the top and can be washed away.
You can sell the converter to a company that specializes in recycling converters and extracting platinum. However, keep in mind that the amount of platinum in a converter is usually very small, and you may not get much money for it.
Yes, there are safety concerns. The process of separating platinum from other materials can be dangerous and involves the use of chemicals. It is important to educate yourself on the proper procedures and safety precautions before attempting to recover platinum from a converter.
