Smelting Catalytic Converters, Platinum, Palladium, & Rhodium

[@RTeBokkel]

There's nobody on KZbin who combines mining, milling, shaker tables, and smelting. Today, he adds catalytic converters. Because I live in his area, I will now be locking my vehicle up every night in the garage.

[@sharolbangerter4057]

Lolol 😂

[@nathandean1687]

just replace your cat with an after market unit

[@sharolbangerter4057]

@@nathandean1687 lolol 😂😂

[@ThomasEllis]

Hahahahaha!

[@digr810]

Lock up your trees as well. His other channel is a sawmill…

[@MrItsthething]

I work in a plant that does exactly this. I work in the hydrometallurgical refinery where we leach the impure material and purify the Pt, Pd, and Rh. Very cool to see the smelting process on a smaller scale like this..

[@sayvorE88]

how hot does the monolith have to get?

[@convertediron]

Haha I work in the place that creates the honeycomb substrate that absorbs the metals. Idnt that fun.

[@MrItsthething]

@@sayvorE88 It's ceramic, hot enough to melt that. Looks like molten black glass.

[@downyourtube]

Looking forward to part 2. Thank you for sharing your adventures with me Sir.

[@Algorhythmz]

Jason makes me wish I lived nearby and got to go hang out and watch all this awesome stuff

[@mikemurphy8714]

Watching the smelting process is so satisfying.

[@littlejason99]

I saw someone said they are sending you the article, so that's great! Just FYI for future reference, many times if you email the author directly, they will send you a copy of their paper.

[@chrisclark6154]

Thanks! Always enjoy your content.

[@mbmmllc]

Appreciate the support!

[@rockman531]

Hi Jason, Awesome video! Really enjoy watching you experiment! Your explanations are easy to understand! Thumbs up! Looking forward to part 2! Stay safe! Jim

[@perryderkiss6604]

Jason your a stud !!! The way you stick at it to find a solution is amazing ! 99 out of 100 would have given up a long time ago. I sure hope this proves out for you

[@davidwells2312]

Nowadays, you could actually marry him if he wanted to

[@CabinOnTheWater]

Edison discovered hundreds, if not thousands, of combinations that would not produce a useable light bulb until he eventually found one that would. You are working at an Eddison level, just with a different problem and material. Keep up the good work!

[@gyvren]

Didn’t Edison steal most of his work from Nikola Tesla? 🤔

[@sayvorE88]

it's Edison

[@sayvorE88]

​@@gyvrennot all

[@juancervantes8211]

Edison didnt do shit except steal and take credit for other peoples work

[@tyrettke2450]

Love the details and watching the glassy slag come out of the Pyramid is always fun. Hope the assay comes back positively!

[@drowe2]

Interesting no mention of where the cat converters came from. Where were you last Saturday night when my vehicle was robbed? JK - great show

[@aeg001]

no fking JK. It's reality. I've lost 2 pairs due to thieves.

[@claudepotter7763]

Lol

[@peirpoint56]

@@aeg001 Its epidemic all over.

[@Mack_Dingo]

Thing about crime, somebody will always pay for something

[@SilverWiskeyStones]

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas Amirite?

[@adventures-with-joe]

Jason, I'm always impressed by your knowledge and your willingness to push your knowledge to new heights! 😂😂 Thanks for the video!!

[@physicsfan314]

Thanks!

[@mbmmllc]

Thank you so much for the support!

[@zoomarguyable]

Have you considered attempting to extract PGE or metal build-ups from soils/dirt on/near major roadways like I-5? I read an academic article a decade ago during my undergrad (I think the article was 12-15 years old at that time) about vehicle exhaust expelling catalytic particulates. These particulates were something like 95% metallic and 5% oxidized. The majority of the metallic particles expelled landed/collected within 10m of roadways in like the top 5cm of soil depth and in roadway dust. I can’t remember for sure, but I believe the article said these particles were very fine, like sub-1-mm. I also do not remember the exact concentration values found in the soils/dust, but I do remember the values were statistically significantly (p

[@louwclaassens4988]

In the dissertation I sent you, there should be mention of Nickel Sulphide collection. We used a Nickel and Sulphur based flux to capture the PGM's and then mill the resultant Nickel Sulphide matte into powder. Then dissolved in concentrated Hydrochloric Acid with added Ammonium Chloride. The residues would be fine PGM powder, which could be filtered off and assayed further.

[@John-y2b4m]

Nice work, that rhodium was just crazy high. Imagine if you could have extracted several ounces in 22'..

[@ThomasPaine223]

Outstanding video jason! Always something new to keep the interest in mining and smelting etc! I used to go around collecting cat cores and sending them to Cali! Made tons of money!

[@lf2334]

It's nice of this guy to make a video showing exactly how to get the profit out of a catalytic converter that you've just stolen. Wonderful.

[@Kevin-ht1ox]

At 6:50, you can see the green color of the copper in the pour and you can watch it drop down. I think you need a cone shaped crucible to ensure it is liquid when it settles. The pour itself will mix everything up.

[@bretcalobeer5152]

They are wonderful processes! Beautifully done, I love the journey.😯

[@thecompguy]

Great video! Can't wait for part 2!

[@mikehartman5326]

You're approaching 300K subscribers.

[@SilverRhino.]

Hey, just wondering if there is a number 2 video coming on smelting catalytic converters? Or was this a failure?

[@crazymaze22]

Have you considered purchasing a handheld X-ray XRF gun? I know codyslab has one, whenever he goes prospecting it looks like it’s extremely useful. I would assume it could be used on slag as well. Although they’re expensive, I feel like you could make up the expense pretty quick in assay costs.

[@alexdrockhound9497]

He has one. Hes used it in previous videos. Probably not good for this application though as the amount of metals in it is so small, and XRF give such a small sample size. And theres also the issue of sample distribution. Analytical XRF procedures require one to powder the sample and then press it back into a puck so its representative.

[@Spudz76]

@@alexdrockhound9497 No, that's MineOperator's unit.

[@chrisd3884]

Fascinating! Can't wait to see your mine in operation and more processing videos! 🇺🇲

[@josephcormier5974]

Well that's a lot of fun excellent video Jason thanks for sharing this with us six stars

[@claudepotter7763]

Definitely like to see part 2

[@rikspector]

Jason, Thank you, your experiments are invaluable! Cheers, Rik

[@leftseatmcgee5002]

I'm baked, sorry for the abrupt tangent, but is the slag worthwhile at all for cutting and polishing?

[@smokeyandspikeproductions]

Nice work Jason! AG all day, silver and shiny indeed!

[@rogerdudra178]

Greetings from the BIG SKY. Your recipes seem quite similar to many of my sugar cookie recipes.

[@davidwells2312]

😂

[@Imakulak]

You’re a scientist, super smart guy.

[@YoursUntruly]

If you bought that online, they’ve already took most of the precious metals out. Another KZbinr got scammed buying those “pre crushed” bags on eBay.

[@johannesdesloper8434]

Aah yes, if you have the PGM's in the Silver you can dissolve the SIlver out with Nitric acid, Palladium will dissolve in Nitric acid though. There must be a way to get that out seperately something easier than cementing on Silver. If I'm not mistaken Rhodium is a pain in chemistry if I remember well it gives a pink percipitate from Aqua Regia.

[@larrytillick952]

Can hardly wait for part 2!

[@caseybeckner2625]

Thanks for the information Jason I absolutely appreciate this video 😊

[@TheTruthPlease100]

There is also a chemical process you can use and then you electrolysis the metals out of solution without having to use a furnace.

[@milsgarage]

Awesome! *Great work!*

[@BornFreeFilms]

If you put 20g of silver in at the end of video and got 20 g out, doesn't that mean there was no precious metals?

[@rashadrivera100]

How did you get the catalytic converter dust? Is this something I can find at my local auto salvage?

[@bobirving6052]

Great info, thanks! I’ll look into supporting.

[@Mike-zl4rp]

Very educational, thank you so much for sharing

[@thomaswall4285]

Hello, pleasure to meet you. Quite the chemistry baffle there. Can not wait for part two and I am very happy to have run into your channel. Looking forward to more. If you don't mind me asking , how did you run across the mine and how difficult is it to acquire these. Thanks again and be well :)

[@connifilteau2678]

Glad you are doing this refine of catalytic converters once more. Looking forward to the results to see if there actually is PT and PD, the reason my father, for ethical upholding, in the 90's, resigned from presidency of a Precious metal refining company. Then the whole point of reducing emissions through catalytic conversion would be false. hmmmm, hope there actually is PT, PD today, in fact protecting our Air, having doubts. Can't wait to see. Thanks for sharing.

[@ronhubbard7927]

Can't wait for part 2

[@petersyverson1722]

Could you crush up the ceramic to a fine powder and run it on the shaker table to collect the platinum?

[@ManMountainMetals]

No.

[@petersyverson1722]

That is what I kinda thought 🤔

[@ManMountainMetals]

@@petersyverson1722 it's CVD chemical vapor deposition, so think molecules or atoms. That's why he had no recovery, he started with to small of a sample size. Really, (IMO) the only efficient way is using acids to dissolve the PGMs from the substrate.

[@m3Tesla]

How do you get the PGMs out of the silver?

[@susanturcotte3176]

Jason, you have proven that catalytic converters are worth a fortune! Many teams of people go out during the night and cut them off of cars for this very reason. What a shame 😔 Anyway, your concoctions are trial and error, which only increases your knowledge as you smelt all types of metals. I was wondering about this and wanted to ask if you keep a 'recipe' notebook? I know that you have vast experience and knowledge. It seems that having a notebook with specific recipes would be beneficial in the future. Furthermore, look at the overhead reduction from following your notes. A lot of money saved there. Blessings from Alabama ❤️

[@kloppanator]

In before this accidentally becomes Jason's best performing video 😅

[@MichaelRadelet]

Saw you talking to Dan Hurd at the chilliwack rock and gem show, didn’t get a chance to say hello, but just wanted to say I enjoy your videos from both your channels.

[@channelcatgold]

Hi Jason, great show at what temp do you cure your cupels before use

[@TalRohan]

fire, chemistry and precious metals...good stuff

[@soviettrucksuk776]

Any advice/ways of melting down lithium and other metals found in a lithium battery? I have a few that are dead and would be good to see them recycled some way (nothing local does them)

[@louwclaassens4988]

You can make a milling tool by taking a foot or less of threaded 2 inch water pipe and capping one end. Add heavy ball bearings and your button and cap the other end. Shake and bake.

[@jaratt85]

You should try and crush plastic chrome parts and see if you can recover the paladium from them. When they plate plastic chrome, such as the grilles on all new Ford trucks, they first rough up the surface and then impregnante it with paladium and the paladium is what the nickel and chrome actually stick to. (I watched Modern Marvels about chrome recently)

[@waynoswaynos]

Your ‘furnace’ might benifit from a High emissive coating to increase efficiency and help it last longer. Gets hotter with less gas because the infrared gets reflected back into the crucible instead of through the walls of the furnace. KZbinr Nobox made a video about it today. Something to do with zirconium

[@tonyd3266]

I’m just curious through the refining process if the harmful items that were collected by the catalytic converter are released back into the atmosphere therefore navigating the hundred thousand miles of use for the catalytic converter. Or maybe they are captured in the slag. I’m curious about opinions there.

[@wayneneher6362]

VERY pretty! That would make a very nice automotive color!

[@colemoorhead4281]

This looks like a novel way to concentrate Platnium group metals, but the chemistry of separate metals is hard, and in my experience, persnickity. Is there a plan after concentration to separate them to a high degree of pureity?

[@sharolbangerter4057]

Did you ever find someone to help you with the underground mining ?

[@Azradok]

Where you want that article sent? Got it for you.

[@mbmmllc]

[e-mail] thank you!

[@carroll-w7wxv]

Looking forward to the follow up videos!

[@johnglasgow4176]

Very interesting keep them videos coming thanks

[@scrapsteenlifeintheforks1943]

At the end you pulled your 20 grams of silver back out so how much platinum group metals are in 50 grams of catalytic converter honeycomb?

[@jeffreycerasano6647]

I see a trailer full of boards; are we heading to the mine soon?

[@MrForlines]

Do you need to use bismuth oxide or can you use bismuth

[@John-ir2zf]

And how do you separate the silver and PGMs, other than chemically ? Cuppelling won't work for that. Maybe that is addressed in part 2.....

[@danielflinn3571]

Thanks from Australia well done

[@nopenothappening2923]

Read at article that said pyrite is going to go up in value due to it being full of lithium, for batteries.

[@scruggsbuster9458]

Very informative thank you for all your hard work very interesting The plastic cover on your door on your shed it looks like it really don't do anything except hang there😂 but thank you for the video see you on the next one

[@allenhammer7923]

Where is part two I can not weight. You got me into this stuff and I have a pile to do .

[@wombatillo]

This is pretty impressive.

[@shoppy00]

Are you sure your material has precious metals in it?, I was watching videos from a cat recycling business and they said they don't accept some cats like after market ones or ones for construction machinery because there are no precious metals in them.

[@markbrown6236]

As always, very interesting.

[@OzNilsson]

Is 2400 blocks from catalytic converters worth anything and if so who could I sell them to?they're in a loft of a property I've rented and I haven't a clue how to get the metals out so would rather just sell them the way they are,it's just the blocks out of the catalytic converters not the actual catalytic converters itself

[@youssefzouine8191]

I love what you do great work ❤

[@horton6951]

Have you ever tried to recover the gold from calaverite Ore . I have a huge chunk of it and wanted to do it right and not lose the gold .

[@ishanasindhu]

I have 15 kg of soil of catalytic converter which contains rhodium, palladium and platinum. I have to separate all these so please tell me the complete process! Help me, how can I do this?

[@ishanasindhu]

Hello no reply on my message please help me for extract rhodium palladium and platinum from catalic converter with acide name and quantity please help

[@aaron159r2]

Jason, how is your chemistry knowledge? Have you considered purifying your metallic extracts via chemical means? (e.g. Aqua Regia, nitric/sulfuric acid solution)

[@jasoncunninghambluejmc]

Awesome bro. How much would you charge for processing 50 lbs of ground up cats?

[@nicholasmcmillan7536]

I like the science and fire aspect. You mentioned that mat collects precious metal well what about taking old mat and give it some muriatic acid baths? Then pour the blue solution into a bucket with some copper tubes to get the silver to drop out of solution 😏 then whatever left should be gold

[@24KGOLDRECOVERY]

Excellent video 🎉

[@littlejonathorn6860]

Chef Jason Baking sweet treats!

[@onceANexile]

How much propane does a melt go thru? Chem 1A

[@marktemplin1159]

Try ,try, try again,, until you succeed 💪💪💪

[@cardguys]

Nice vid. Why not buy a niton xrf?

[@FlatulentBreeze]

The drug addicts that steal cats from my little corner of ghetto WA would appreciate this, if they wern't to far gone to emulate it (or sit through 12.5 minutes of class). I've replaced one cat in the last couple years, luckily it was a fairly cheap one (125.00). I've wondered for quite awhile where they even take cats to process, but I guess anywhere they know how is that place. I wonder how wrecking yards process them, maybe through you in the future? Once it's all separated and purified I'm sure it's legally sellable to even precious metal buyers. Interesting subject but a bit controversial concidering the epidemic of sawzall artists roaming the night.

[@leviperkins1469]

Go to a large hill on a busy road and sweep up alongside the road and smelt that id bet you get surprising results

[@no-name8553]

Ah! Here are all the Cat Convertors from Phoenix from the year 2021. Was wondering where mine made off to. 🤔

[@burnouttx2415]

Way to inspire future cat converter thieves! Hint: Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

[@sven5154]

I sent you that article incase you still needed it.

[@dwaynehall6356]

Respect

[@davidwells2312]

Can I please get an application to the job that brings you all the catalytic converters? Thanks

[@petepeterson4540]

I think you know about the dangers of metal and skin absorption right fingers crossed🤞

[@texasslingleadsomtingwong8751]

I'm hoping he knows about platinum exposure particularly if it's in an acid solution . Reason being , I get the feeling he's going to expose it to an acid solution to separate silver out.

[@terrienhumain6723]

Thank you, very interesting your videos.

[@yossarianmnichols9641]

This is like a chemistry class.

[@donaldfitzgerald8950]

Jason, that's some recipe! I can imagine going to the neighbors asking to borrow a cup of flour! Lol! Just for shits and giggles, would it make a difference if it's self rising? Lol! All the Alchemy involved, you're a wizard besides being a miner, logger, etc. .. ⛏️⚒️🙃👍🤠

[@CapraObscura]

Could you mimic how neolithic people smelted and purified precious metals?

[@northyorkshireuk1]

Its been killing me for years i tryed streetips methods (dont go there unless your a chemistry genius) the best recovery technique i have by a country mile is saving them up taking the ceramic centers to a processor who i know well he mills them in a ball mill together then takes xrf readings throughout the sample and pays me the price less 10% if i go on the code on the cat its alot less and the dust is kept in stages of a ceramic pgm mix and made from that into new catalytic converters the metals are not recovered fully in the process and after years of trying to do it myself i realised the true value is in the DUST😮

[@makegrowlabrepeat]

Could you use one of those scrap metal X-ray guns to assay the slag?

[@makegrowlabrepeat]

Or mat, or button?