Metal Recycling Services
Metal & Catalyst Resources services industrial producers and refiners by purchasing, recycling, reclaiming, and/or refining the metals contained in their spent catalysts, metal scrap, residues, sludges, and slurries. These catalysts and residues typically contain one or more of the following metals or metal compounds: Nickel (Ni), Cobalt (Co), Molybdenum (Mo), Vanadium (V), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Platinum (Pt), Palladium (Pd), Rhodium (Rh), Rhenium (Re), Ruthenium (Ru), Gold (Au), Iridium (Ir), or Silver (Ag). Although these metals comprise the majority of Metal & Catalyst Resources’ recycling, reclamation, and refining business, MCR also works with such metals as Chromium (Cr), Selenium (Se), Tellurium (Te), Tungsten (W), Yttrium (Y), Europium (Eu), Niobium (Nb), Neodymium (Nd), Gallium (Ga), Gadolinium (Gd), and others.
If you have a spent, waste, scrap, residual, or off-spec material containing metals or metal compounds that you would like to recycle; or if you would like to discuss the characteristics of your material with the staff at Metal & Catalyst Resources, please contact MCR.
Cobalt Catalyst Recycling
Metal & Catalyst Resources is a buyer of spent Cobalt catalyst, and of Cobalt containing ashes, cobalt cakes, cobalt residues, cobalt grindings, cobalt scrap, cobalt sludges, cobalt battery scrap, anodes, targets, turbine blades and cobalt solids. The latter include, but are not limited to, weld rod, alnico dross and scrap, high speed steel, and cobalt samarium.
The metal contents of spent catalysts and of residues, grindings, sludges, and solids vary tremendously based on original content, application, usage time, and other factors. As a result, MCR works with cobalt levels ranging from 3% Co to more than 90% Co.
To inquire about reclamation or recycling capabilities, or to provide specifications about your spent catalyst, residue, grinding, sludge, or solid, please contact MCR’s Commercial Department.
Copper Catalyst Recycling and Zinc Catalyst Recycling
Metal & Catalyst Resources is a buyer of spent Copper catalysts, which typically have as-is Copper concentrations varying from 15% to 60%. These catalysts have been used in a variety of petrochemical applications, and may contain significant quantities of other metals, such as Manganese, Zinc, and Chromium. MCR is also a buyer and recycler of copper turnings, copper solutions, copper scrap, copper wire, and copper salts.
In addition to Copper containing materials, MCR recycles various Zinc catalysts and dusts with contents ranging from 30% to 90% zinc.
If you are interested in finding new applications for your copper or zinc materials, or if you would like another alternative to your current methods of reclamation or disposal, please contact MCR’s Commercial Department.
Molybdenum Catalyst Recycling
Metal & Catalyst Resources is a buyer of most types of spent molybdenum catalyst and molybdenum residues.
Typical refining catalysts, such as hydrotreating and hydrodesulfurization catalysts, contain from 3% to 20% Molybdenum. These refining catalysts are classified as hazardous waste in the United States (K-171, K-172) and many other countries. For this reason, MCR only works with processing facilities that are legally and environmentally allowed to import, process, and/or consume these manifested wastes. In these facilities, the Mo content of the catalyst is reclaimed, along with some of the other contained metals such as Nickel, Vanadium, and Cobalt. There are also similar molybdenum catalysts used in petrochemicals that are not classified as hazardous wastes, and MCR is a buyer of these non-RCRA
waste spent molybdenum catalysts as well.
There are additional forms of molybdenum catalyst that contain from 20% to 52% Mo (as well as, in some cases, Cobalt, Bismuth, Tungsten, Nickel, Vanadium, etc.) All of these catalysts are recyclable. MCR acts in cooperation with a major manufacturer of one form of these catalysts, separates the inerts mixed with the catalyst for resale or for return to the catalyst user, and recovers the molybdenum for manufacture of salts or alloys.
Along with molybdenum catalyst, MCR purchases numerous types of molybdenum residues and byproducts with widely varying compositions.
Please contact MCR’s commercial department to discuss your Molybdenum recycling needs.
Nickel Catalyst Recycling
Metal & Catalyst Resources is a buyer and recycler of spent nickel catalyst. These catalysts can contain from 6% to 80% nickel, and are used in a wide array of refining, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, industrial, and manufacturing processes. The spent catalysts may also, at times, be classified as DOT, RCRA, or Basel Hazardous Wastes/Materials. MCR will conduct the handling, transport, and recycling of all such materials in accordance with all legal and environmental regulations.
Metal & Catalyst Resources is also adept at recycling nickel battery scrap, nickel residues, nickel sludges, nickel slurries, nickel powders, nickel grindings, and off-spec nickel products.
Please contact MCR’s commercial department to discuss your material specifications and your recycling needs.
Precious Metal Refining and Recovering
Precious Metal Refinery Services (PGMs)
Metal & Catalyst Resources facilitates the precious metal refining of multiple types and forms of spent catalysts, concentrates, ashes, filter cakes, sludges, honeycombs, solutions, anodes, targets, turbine blades, and x-ray film that contain precious metals or precious metal compounds. These materials may contain platinum, palladium, rhodium, rhenium, iridium, ruthenium, gold, and/or silver, with precious metal concentrations ranging from less than 40 ppm (parts per million, or grams per ton) to greater than 15% by weight.
MCR is able to handle these multiple forms and types of materials because of its longstanding relationships with precious metal refineries and smelters. Our precious metal refineries are located around the globe, and each refinery has specific processing merits. These relationships allow MCR to offer competitive terms for your spent catalyst and precious metal materials, regardless of concentration, material form, economic conditions, or the material’s physical location.
MCR offers the following precious metal refinery services, based upon customer preference:
- refining your precious metal materials and returning the reclaimed precious metals to your pool metals account
- making an outright purchase of your precious metal containing materials
To receive terms for your precious metals, or to inquire about MCR’s capabilities, please contact the Commercial Department at Metal & Catalyst Resources.
Vanadium Catalyst Recycling
Metal & Catalyst Resources purchases spent Vanadium catalyst, as well as vanadium ashes, vanadium slags, vanadium filter vanadium cakes, vanadium superalloy scrap, and vanadium concentrates.
Purchase terms for these items depend upon material form, material content, packaging, and the prevailing metals market. Typically, MCR can offer quotations based upon detailed information provided by the supplier of the vanadium containing materials, and upon receipt and analysis of material samples. Please contact MCR’s Commercial Department with your material specifications.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Metal Recovery & Reclamation Services
Metal & Catalyst Resources specializes in purchasing, recycling, and refining metals from spent catalysts, metal scrap, residues, sludges, and slurries. We handle materials containing nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, vanadium, copper, zinc, and precious metals like platinum, palladium, rhodium, and gold. As a reminder, this is only a partial listing of the types of materials we handle. Our metal recovery services serve industrial producers and refiners across the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing industries.
Yes, we are experienced buyers and recyclers of many types of spent catalysts. Some of which include hydrotreating catalysts, hydrodesulfurization catalysts, and various other industrial catalysts. We handle hazardous waste classifications (K-171, K-172) in full compliance with DOT, RCRA, and Basel regulations. Our spent catalyst recycling services work with metal concentrations ranging from 3% to over 90%, depending on the metal and on the catalyst type.
Our precious metal refining services handle materials with concentrations from less than 40 ppm to greater than 15% by weight. We work with a global network of refineries and offer two options: outright purchase of your materials or toll refining, where we return the reclaimed precious metals to your account. We process everything from catalysts and ashes to solutions, anodes, and x-ray film. Because we have a large network of refineries we work with, we can tailor your precious metal materials to the recovery process that is most suited to it, which improves efficiency and maximizes value to our customers.
Pricing depends on material composition, metal content percentages, material form, current market conditions, total weight, how often the material is available, and processing requirements. We provide quotations based on detailed material specifications and sample analysis. Please contact our Commercial Department with your material specifications to receive specific pricing.
While headquartered in Houston, Texas, our metal recycling and refining services extend globally through our network of processing facilities and refineries. We can handle materials regardless of physical location and ensure competitive pricing under various economic conditions.
Yes, environmental compliance is a central aspect of our operations. We adhere to all DOT, RCRA, and Basel Convention requirements for hazardous materials. We only work with fully licensed/permitted facilities that are legally and environmentally authorized to process regulated waste materials, ensuring responsible recycling throughout the entire process.