Precious Metal Recycling and Conversion into Bullion Bars

Recycling precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum into bullion bars involves multiple stages from collection and refining to casting. Discover the process and benefits of converting precious metals into bullion.

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Stages of Precious Metal Recycling

۱. Collection and Separation

• Collection: Sources include e-waste (mobile phones, computers, circuit boards), old jewelry, automotive catalysts, batteries.

• Separation: Extracting precious-metal-containing materials from plastics, glass, and base metals.

۲. Crushing and Grinding

• Crushing materials into smaller pieces.

• Grinding into fine particles to prepare for chemical and thermal separation.

۳. Smelting and Recovery

• Smelting: Using specialized furnaces.

• Recovery: Precious metals settle at the bottom while impurities rise as slag.

• Chemical recovery methods such as acid leaching and precipitation are also applied.

۴. Refining and Purification

• Chemical Refining: Electrolysis for gold and silver.

• Thermal Refining: Distillation and vaporization to remove impurities.

۵. Casting into Bullion Bars

Refined metals are poured into molds to create standard bullion bars in different sizes and weights.

۶. Quality Control and Packaging

• Purity and quality testing of bullion bars.

• Stamping with weight and fineness.

• Secure packaging for market or industrial use.

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Table: Precious Metal Recycling Stages

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Benefits of Converting Precious Metals into Bullion

• Easier handling and storage due to standard form.

• Global marketability as internationally recognized trade units.

• Value preservation as a secure method of investment.

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