BASF & Heraeus to recycle precious metals from auto catalysts

German chemicals firm BASF has partnered with Heraeus to set up a plant in China to recycle automotive catalysts in order to salvage the precious metals found within them and bring the sector closer to a circular economy.

Both companies will operate a 50% share each and the joint venture will be headquartered in Pinghu, China, with the plant expected to be constructed this year and should be up and running at some point in 2023.

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China as a nation has a finite number of precious metals in the platinum metals groups which includes platinum, palladium and rhodium and therefore relies heavily on imports. It does, however, have market dominance in the field of rare earth elements.

As the largest automotive market in the world, recycling scrap metal may be the key to securing reliable domestic sources of these resources.

Outside of the automotive industry, the metals could be used in the chemicals and electronics sectors or in the development of green hydrogen infrastructure.

The company claims these recycled metals will operate at roughly 90% lower emissions than traditionally-sourced ones.

In addition, the mining sector itself is also very carbon-intensive and so recycling could help reduce the reliance on extracting these metals from the ground.

“Through the partnership with Heraeus, we will bring best-in-class pyrometallurgy technology for the recovery of precious metals from spent automotive catalysts in China and help improve resource utilisation for high-tech and other companies that use precious metals,” said Tim Ingle, Vice President of BASF's Precious Metals Refining and Chemicals & Battery Recycling unit.

“This venture builds on our already strong presence in China within the wet-chemical recycling industry", Marius Vigener, Vice President Business Line Chemicals at Heraeus Precious Metals said in a statement.

"Recycled precious metals minimise emissions and will enable our customers to reduce their CO2 footprint. This will support China in the development of its circular economy and contribute significantly to the stability of local precious metal supplies", he added.

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The two companies also claim the new plant could lead to the creation of at least 100 new jobs.

The joint venture is expected to be legally verified at some point in the next few months.

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