Platinum alloy recycling prices are directly linked to international platinum prices and fluctuate based on the platinum content in scrap materials. In July 2025, the international platinum price stabilized at $943 per ounce (approximately $33.26 per gram), but the actual recycling price was only 50%-75% of that. For example, high-purity industrial scrap containing 10%-20% platinum (such as catalyst fragments) commands a recycling price of $17-20 per gram; low-grade electronic scrap containing 1%-5% platinum drops to $8-15 per gram. It is important to note that the type of impurities significantly affects the quote—alloys containing copper and nickel have higher purification costs, resulting in a 5% decrease in unit price for each additional 1% of impurities, while mixed precious metal waste containing palladium and rhodium can command a 15% premium. Before recycling platinum alloys, it is essential to require third-party testing to avoid the price-lowering trap of confusing “metal content quotes” with “total waste volume quotes.”
Industrial platinum alloy recycling is primarily divided into three categories: Precious metal composite type (e.g., platinum-rhodium alloys, S-type thermocouple scrap containing 10% rhodium, capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1,600°C, used in aviation sensors); Carrier-bound type (e.g., platinum-carbon catalysts, scrap containing 2%-20% platinum, requiring hydrometallurgical separation of activated carbon); high-consumption small-part type (e.g., PT950 dental casting frameworks, platinum-iridium electrode plates, which have low individual weights but purity exceeding 95%). PT900/950 jewelry from the jewelry industry, due to wear or outdated design, also falls under the high-circulation category, with recycling relying on non-destructive testing to confirm that the markings match the actual purity.
Automotive manufacturing waste three-way catalytic converters contain platinum-rhodium coatings, with individual pieces containing 0.5–2 grams of platinum group metals, making them the primary source for platinum alloy recycling; Chemical and petroleum refineries produce thousands of tons of waste platinum-carbon catalysts annually, with platinum alloy recovery content in waste from aromatic production lines reaching up to 20%; Platinum-plated electrodes and semiconductor waste from electronics contract manufacturers contain only 1%-5% platinum, but batch processing volumes often reach ton-scale; Platinum crucibles, electrodes, and dental restoration alloys discarded by medical laboratories command significant premiums for platinum alloy recycling due to their purity exceeding 95%. Additionally, PT950 scrap and jewelry polishing dust from jewelry processing plants must be collected in specialized containers to prevent the loss of precious metals.
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