Precious Metal Refining

Precious metal refining

Precious metal refining or Metallurgy is the process of purifying an impure material into a pure one. Precious metal refining is very different from smelting because it does not involve a core chemical change of the raw material. In refining, the final material is always chemically identical to the original material but in a purer form.

While refining is predominately used for Lead and Copper, precious metal refining from products such as Silver and Gold are also purified in this way.

Precious metals refined by All Waste Matters are usually done so using the Phyrolysis method which solidifies noble-metalliferous metals, melting them to become cider and then pouring which finally separates the precious metals.

During these uncertain economic times investors have fallen back to the more stable commodities market, with precious metal prices (Gold and Silver in particular) rocketing as a result

It is also important for manufacturers to be aware of procedures in their processes which may generate precious metal scrap suitable for recycling. By using All Waste Matters as your precious metal refiner you may be able to turn these seemingly insignificant scraps into profit for your company.

Some uses of Gold in industry include:

• Gold is used in the connectors of expensive electronics cables, like audio, video and USB cables
• Gold is the most popular metal used in jewelry making
• Gold alloys are used in dentistry, especially in tooth restorations such as crowns
• Gold is used in computer circuit boards, communications equipment and jet aircraft engines

Some uses of silver in Industry include:

• Dissolved in Mercury, silver can be used for amalgams as dental fillings
• Silver electrical components in computers
• Mirroring process in the manufacturing process
• In the form of silver nitrate films for the photography and radiography industries

There are many places within a manufacturing procedure that may hide precious metal scraps. For example buffing, sanding or grinding of precious metals can cause scrap to be in the form of dust. This dust should be collected as it can often be found to be of high purity.

As experts in precious metal refining All Waste Matters can arrange for one of our highly skilled members of staff to visit your site and help to identify processes in your manufacturing procedures which could be producing valuable scrap precious metal.

Please click on the link below for an up-to-date summary of precious metal prices:
www.kitco.com/market/bp_charts.html