Furnace innovation for precious metals scrap

United States – US-based Metallix Refining Inc. has taken the initiative regarding the recycling of precious metals-bearing scrap by designing the APR 3 furnace – said to be of particular benefit to the scrap jewellery market.

The furnace thermally reduces the elements surrounding the material, Metallix notes, by creating an oxygen-starved, nitrogen-infused atmosphere, using radiant heat to control combustion of the scrap materials. This allows the production of a ′turbulent-free environment′ inside the furnace, effectively minimising precious metal losses.

The final product from the APR 3 furnace is a precious metals-bearing ash which is then sent to the company′s mechanical reduction, melt or wet chemical departments for further upgrading. The APR 3 enshrines ′a far more advanced process′ compared to industry-standard furnaces, Metallix says.

These alternatives end up burning valuable precious metals in an oxygen-rich atmosphere, meaning that they cannot control combustion of the scrap materials and risk losing precious metals, the recycler explains. Avoiding losses is vital in the ′fast-paced′ jewellery business, according to Metallix. The furnace innovation will prove ′perfect together with jewellery sweeps′, finally yielding a recycling solution for scrap materials that ′too sensitive for common incineration methods′.

Over the last 40 years, Metallix has become a global leader in precious metals recycling. With offices in North Carolina and New Jersey, it has pursued innovative ways of both recycling and refining gold, silver, platinum, palladium and rhodium.

For more information, visit: www.metallixrefining.com