W. C. Heraeus

Precious Metals Refining

W. C. Heraeus

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Heraeus has more than 150 yearsexperience in handling and processingof precious metals. Wilhelm Carl (W. C.)Heraeus founder of Heraeus familybusinesses which opened their doors in1851, provided profound expertise inPrecious Metal Chemistry from it’sinception. From chemical processing torefining to the mechanical processing ofprecious metals, these areas have beenthe core activities of the Heraeus family-owned businesses. Precious MetalChem-istry is our area of expertise since then.

Our particular strengths are in PlatinumGroup Metals along with Ruthenium,Iridium, Rhenium and Osmium.

We refine precious metals for our cus-tomers from primary and secondarysources and produce fine metals accor-ding to international standards or sophis-ticated chemicals for various applicationsin homogenous and heterogenous cata-lysis.

Synergies resulting from our integra-ted processes and the strong sup-

port of the entire Heraeus groupare cornerstones of our success.

Our past success combinedwith Heraeus’ long-term

focus on precious metalchemistry provides

stability as well asopportunity.

W. C. Heraeus GmbH (WCH)Hanau, founded in 1851

Tradition, Innovation and Reliability

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Africa provide sufficient and redun-dant treatment capacity close to our

customers throughout the industry.

The Chemicals Division of Heraeus thusmakes an important contribution toensuring the supply of precious metalsto you throughout the world.

Highly technological equipment, modernanalytic and research instruments aimedfor quality control and unique technolo-gical processes of treating preciousmetal containing materials allow Heraeusto produce competitive goods of highquality.

Today our company is a globalleader, operating among theleading companies in refiningservices and precious metalproducts for a variety of applicati-ons.Well financed, with a strongcommitment to chemistry withprecious metals we have a long termstrategy to stay and further expand thisbusiness field together with our custo-mers.

Heraeus has established plants atseveral locations in key industrial areasfor the extraction of precious metalsoriginating from primary and secondaryraw materials followed by the produc-tion of sophisticated products and finemetals according to the latest stan-dards. Heraeus guarantees high refiningyields and short processing times byusing effective techniques and by main-taining a high level of investment inmodern equipment.

Production facilities in Hanau, Germany,Santa Fe Springs/California, Wartburg/Tennessee, Newark/New Jersey,Udaipur/India, Shanghai/China, HongKong/China and Port Elizabeth/South

GermanyW. C. Heraeus GmbH Chemicals Division

USA, CAHeraeus Metal Processing Inc.

USA, TNHeraeus Metal Processing Inc.

USA, NYHeraeus Precious Metals Management

South AfricaHeraeus Refinery SA (Pty) Ltd.

ChinaHeraeus Materials Technology Shanghai Ltd.

Hong KongHeraeus Ltd.

IndiaRavindra Heraeus Pvt. Ltd.

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We refine precious metal containing materialsthroughout the industry:

■ Primary Concentrates

Mining concentrates mainly rich in PGMs (Plati-num Group Metals) and bullion concentrates.

■ Spent Catalysts

Heterogeneous catalysts on various substrates (i.e.carbon, alumina oxide) and homogeneous cata-lysts in different shape as well as ion exchangeresins deriving from industries like petro-chemistry,chemistry, fine chemistry, pharmaceutical industry,nitric acid production in addition to exhaust gaspurification.

■ Alloys

Alloys, doré, targets and used materials from thefields of dentistry, jewellery, sensors, electrodes,magnetic data storage, glass processing and labo-ratory ware.

■ Secondary Concentrates

Concentrates, intermediates, sweeps and precipitates.

■ Electronic components and materials from the electronics, data storage and plating industry.

High grade electronic materials likeconnectors, MLCC, strips and capaci-

tors as well as pastes, powders andsurplus materials from production

processes. Please contact theHeraeus staff for your refi-

ning needs.

Refining Materials

Precious Metal Refining at Heraeus

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Based on our experience and yourdescription of material properties weare in the position to submit a compre-hensive offer including treatment char-ges, recovery yields and metal availabili-ty schedule. For refinables with a morecomplex matrix we are more than happyto evaluate a sample of your material in

order to analyse the matrix and definethereafter an appropriate treatment route.Furthermore we offer our assistance inyour early process definition or R & Dprocess in order to define the mosteconomic refining route of your pre-cious resources.

Alloys i.e. targets used in magnetic data storageapplications

Primary and secondary concentrates containingPt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ir and Os

Spent catalysts on various support materialsOur services

Toll refining or purchase of refiningmaterials and/or refined metals, pleasechoose your desired option.

A key factor in our operations is ourteam, performing all activities. Our teamis characterised as follows:

■ Highly motivated, internationally orientated in all business functions

■ Technically and commercially custo-mer orientated

■ It’s easy to do business with Heraeus!

In order to allow you the maximum flexi-bility with respect to finance and metaldisposition around the globe. We offerextremely close collaboration withHeraeus precious metal trading officeslocated at Hanau/Germany, New York/USA and Hong Kong the full range ofservices like metal leases, hedgingtransactions, metal transfers and physi-cal shipments.

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■ Sampling

Sampling and analysis is the key ele-ment for you, our - valued customer.Appropriate and dedicated samplingand analytical equipment is used inorder to prepare, homogenize and ana-lyse a representative sample of yourvaluable material. These steps are mostcritical in determining the preciousmetal content in your material.

Depending on the quantity, materialmatrix and precious metal content ofthe incoming material the appropriatesampling process is chosen. Possibleprocesses include sieving, milling, melt-ing or solution sampling

Dedicated equipment, sophisticatedwork procedures, well trained staff anddecades of experience guarantee thebest care of your precious metal!

During sampling you may send a repre-sentative in order to survey the samplingoperations at Heraeus.

Sampling and Analysis

Melt Sampling

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■ classical wet-chemical methods

■ fire assay

■ instrumental methods such as

■ Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy(AAS)

■ Optical Emission Spectrometry(OES) including ICP and GDL

■ X-Ray Spectrometry (XRS) including WDX and XRF

Sampling procedure for supported catalysts

1 Roller conveyor2 Scale3 Drum dumping device4 Silo5 Screening bed6 Divider 9:17 Vibration conveyer8 Magnetic separator9 Rotary divider 9.5 : 0.5

10 Fines11 Pellets12 Iron13 Oversize14 Sample

1 2 3 10 11 12 13 14

9.5 0.5

4

5 67

8 9

Sampling carousel

Sampling of supported catalysts

■ Analytical Services

Well experienced and skilled personnel,sophisticated methods and mostmodern equipment are the basis foraccurate analytical results.

At Heraeus we apply several differentmethods for example:

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Thermal reduction is an important stepin the treatment of material containingPrecious Metals. This process ensuresthe drying of material and the increaseof precious metals concentrations andis therefore an essential foundation forthe homogenization and sampling ofmaterial.

Especially spent heterogeneous andhomogeneous catalysts such as carbon-catalysts, resins and sludges as well asprecious metal containing items fromthe Electronics, Glass- or decorativecoating industries are treated in this way.

Heraeus has recently invested in capac-ity expansion at the facilities in Hanau/Germany and Wartburg/Tennessee andthus has significantly increased the rangeof treatable materials.

HeraCYCLE®: A highly flexible and robust technologyfor thermal treatment of refining materials

High Quality throughmodern Equipment

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The technology used in this robust unitis based on our substantial experiencein the treatment of precious metals andis designed to facilitate treatment ofmaterials with more and more complexand ever changing matrices.

We can ensure a professional treatmentof all intake materials regardless of theirconsistency.

Heraeus is ready to convert your recov-ered metal into the precious metal com-pounds and homogeneous catalystsyou need for your process.

The state of the art HeraCYCLE® pro-cess meets all regulatory standards andhas been permitted without problems.

All material is treated in a batch pro-cess ensuring that each customer lot istreated separately and the containedprecious metals can be balanced cor-rectly.

In Hanau we have commissioned theHeraCYCLE® process for thermal pro-cessing.

This process is focused on the treat-ment of organic containing catalystswith high burning points originating outof the chemical, petrochemical or phar-maceutical industries.

Thermal treatment at Wartburg/TN

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Your valuable materials will be received,stored and processed under safe andsecured conditions at all times while inthe custody of Heraeus.

All pieces are registered without fail atthe time of delivery. Once received allmaterial is tagged with a unique identi-fier through our bar-coding system.Thescales are integrated into the IT systemand weights are transmitted directly.We can track at any time the locationand process step in which your materialis currently situated. Since this is anintegrated IT system, all weights andbookings only have to be entered onceand are further processed online. Allmaterial movements are therefore docu-mented and can be easily traced.

Errors in weighing or transmission areeliminated.

Security and Metal tracking

Registration and identification of each and every lotthrough laser scanning systems at the Hanau refinery

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The bar code system is always at yourservice. Bar code scanners and barcode labels are in place wherever andwhenever your material is received,sampled, processed, analysed or stored.

Security of Precious Metals is guaran-teed by the use of sophisticated techni-

cal systems like video control and dedi-cated work procedures.

All these systems are in line with insu-rance programes and correspondingrisk coverage that are in place.

Lot identification in each and every step. Materials and equipment used are always monitored.

Systems like video-control ensure the securityof your precious metal.

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Precious Metal Refining and PreciousMetal Chemistry in general is the corebusiness at Heraeus. Thus Heraeusmakes an important contribution toensure the supply of precious metalsthroghout the world.

The business portfolio of the Heraeusgroup enables us to offer a cycle busi-ness for our customers.

■ Trading

Procurement, hedging and leasing ofprecious metals.

■ Products

Homogeneous and heterogeneouscatalysts, thin film materials, thick filmmaterials, medical components, ceramiccolours, alloys (dental, jewellery...),bonding wires etc.

■ Refining

A real synergy for our customers !

Primary Metals

Precious Metal Cycle

Pt-Ingot and Pt-Sponge

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Precious metal containing materialsfrom primary and secondary sources

Precious Metal Trading

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432

1

B

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A

C

1 Primary Concentrates2 Spent Catalysts3 Alloys4 Secondary Concentrates5 Electronic components and

materials from the electronics,data storage and platingindustry

6 Intermediates/Residues7 Fine metals

(Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Os, Re, Ag, Au)

A SamplingB Thermal treatmentC AnalysisD Hydro- and pyrometallurgical

treatmentE Purification

After separation andpurification of the pre-cious metals Heraeus

delivers high purityproducts to meet

internationally recog-nised standards such

as ASTM.

D

E

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Environmental compliance, protection andconservation is one of our top priorities.

Our refineries are in full compliance withany and all governmental – federal, stateand municipal laws and regulations.

Regular audits and proactive monitoringensure the highest level of standards forcompliance is always maintained.

The refinery at Hanau for example has thestatus “preauthorised facility”, confirmingcompliance with all legal obligations andenabling our customers to send in refina-bles with minimum paperwork – it is easyto do business with us !

Daily shipments, handling, storage andtreatment of hazardous material are han-dled by Heraeus professional experts.

Please ask for our support and guidancein logistics, transborder movements andnotifications.

Furthermore we operate on the basis ofquality management systems being

certified according to DIN ISO 9001.

Environment, Health, Safety and Logistics

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Team international

South AfricaHeraeus Chemicals SA (Pty) Ltd.6-7 Oddy Place, PerseveranceP.O. Box 1987Port Elizabeth 6000,South AfricaPhone: +27 (0)41 404 2800Fax: +27 (0)41 463 3372

ChinaHeraeus Materials Technology Shanghai Ltd.1 Guang Zhong RoadZhuanqiao Town Minhang Destrict201108 ShanghaiChinaPhone: +86 (21) 6489 0060Fax: +86 (21) 6489 0022

Hong KongHeraeus Ltd.,Heraeus Technology Centre30 On Chuen St./On Lok TsuenFanling, N.T. Hong KongPhone: +852 2675 1200Fax: +852 2682 3220

IndiaRavindra Heraeus Pvt. Ltd.A-196 (A), Road F, M.I.A. MadriUdaipur 313003 IndiaPhone: +91 294 249 0029Fax: +91 294 249 2177

GermanyW. C. Heraeus GmbH Chemicals DivisionBusiness Unit Recycling Heraeusstraße 12 – 1463450 HanauGermanyPhone: +49 (6181) 35 51 94Fax: +49 (6181) 35 5914E-Mail: recycling@heraeus.com

USA, CAHeraeus SPAHeraeus Metal Processing Inc.15524 Carmenita RoadSanta Fe Springs, CA 90670USAPhone: + 1 (562) 921 7464Fax: + 1 (562) 623 3076

USA, TNHeraeus Metal Processing Inc.1975 Knoxville HighwayWartburg, TN 37887USAPhone: +1 (423) 346 8200Fax: +1 (423) 346 8655

USA, NYHeraeus Precious Metals Management65 Euclid AvenueNEWARK, NJ 07105-4527 USAPhone: +1 (973) 817 7878Fax: +1 (973) 578 2786

W. C. Heraeus GmbH & Co. KGChemicals DivisionBusiness Unit RefiningHeraeusstraße 12 – 1463450 Hanau, Germany

Telefon + 49 (0) 6181/35 5194Fax + 49 (0) 6181/35 8760E-Mail: refining@heraeus.comwww.wc-heraeus.com

Layout: Volk Grafik Design, HanauPrinted in Germany1MXX.05N Reu