| Abstract Scope |
Spent automotive catalytic converters (SACCs) containing PGMs and REMs are an essential component among all luxurious as well as inexpensive conventional vehicles having a lifespan of ~8-12 years. Generation of huge amount of SACCs containing ~2-6000 mg/kg of valuable metals like PGMs {platinum(Pt), palladium(Pd), rhodium(Rh)} and REMs{cerium(Ce) and lanthanum(La)}. This paper focuses on the systematic removal of impurities, with significant enrichment of the valuable metals present. Crushing, grinding and sieving (-150 mesh) help to increase the surface area, followed by alkali roasting with a suitable ratio of NaOH at an elevated temperature for 2 hours which enhances the liberation of metals present in SACCs. This results in uniform yield during further treatment like leaching, precipitation, etc. Therefore, pre-treatment steps are vital for the liberation of metals from the substrate, improving leaching efficiency, and metal recovery yields, playing a crucial role in the sustainable recycling of SACCs. |