Current State and Problems of Analytical Control of Spent Automobile Catalysts (Review)

Resumo

Abstract—Spent Automobile Catalysts (SACs) hold a special place among secondary raw materials containing precious metals. Accurate determination of platinum group metals in SACs plays an important role influencing the economic efficiency of the utilization process. In this work, we review the methods of analysis of SACs available in the literature, as well as methodological developments of the Giredmet Institute in collaboration with Anserteko and NUST “MISiS”. The main emphasis is placed on the use of modern tools for chemical preparation of hard-to-break objects like SACs, including autoclave and microwave opening of the samples. The advantages of the assay concentration method based on developments at the Yekaterinburg Non-Ferrous Metals Processing Plant for analysis of SACs are considered. We discuss certified spectroscopic and chemical methods which have been developed for analysis of spent automobile catalysts and outline the ways of their further improvement.