Let’s try a fun game! If I were to ask you what places you’d think you’d be able to find precious materials discover more, you would probably list jewelry stores, treasure boxes, or that heirloom your grandmother gave you. In a twist of the plot, what if I said that there is gold (figuratively) in your gasoline? Here comes the unsung star: the hydroprocessing. These seemingly mundane materials are like hidden vaults containing precious metals just waiting to rediscovered.
Why should you, as a reader, be so excited about it? To begin with, you should think about sustainability. We tend to overlook the treasure hidden in plain sight when we rush to extract and exploit Earth’s resources. Hydroprocessing catalysts used in refineries are infused by metals including platinum, palladium, or nickel. These aren’t just names in the periodic table, but high-value industrial metals.
1. Recycling catalysts can be a green goldmine. The ounces of metal that can be reclaimed by recycling spent catalysts will reduce mining, soil disruption and carbon footprints. Mother Earth has given this project a big green thumbs-up!
2. Take advantage of the savings: Imagine a situation where a business decides to use used catalysts as opposed to purchasing new stock. The result: Massive Savings! The savings are huge!
3. Tech Triumphs. As we move into an era of smartphones, advanced electronics and electric cars the demand for platinum and palladium has skyrocketed. Recovering these precious metals from spent catalysers can be crucial in feeding the tech sector’s insatiable desire.
4. Beyond Refinery. While hydroprocessing catsalysts are our main characters, the concept goes beyond. Catalysts that are rich in precious metallic elements are used by many industries including pharmaceuticals, electronics and electronic devices. Recycling potential is thus vast and varied.