Full Article: Make The Most Of Spent Pharmaceutical Catalysts

By Richard J. DeSantis,
Sabin Metal Corp.

Pharmaceutical processors use a variety of precious-metal-bearing catalysts in the manufacture of drugs and other products. For example, heterogeneous palladium on carbon, platinum on carbon, and palladium on calcium carbonate catalysts facilitate the hydrogenation of various intermediates. These materials are very expensive. In fact, platinum prices are the highest they've ever been and precious metals prices can fluctuate significantly. With precious metals values soaring to new highs, it makes economic sense for pharmaceutical manufacturers to work with a reliable precious metals refiner to reclaim the valuable metals remaining in spent catalysts.