DC arc furnaces have established multidimensional advantages in precious metal refining through their technical characteristics, making them the preferred equipment for resource recovery from high-value solid waste.
First, they offer high recovery rates. Their stable high-temperature environment above 1600°C efficiently separates carriers from precious metals. For instance, when processing three-way catalytic converters, the combined recovery rate of platinum, palladium, and rhodium exceeds 95%. With optimized processes, this can reach over 99%—significantly higher than the 85%-90% achieved by traditional hydrometallurgical methods—minimizing precious metal loss.
Second, it offers low energy consumption and low costs. Its direct current power supply system achieves a natural power factor of 0.95-0.98, eliminating eddy current losses common in AC furnaces and reducing energy consumption by 15%-20%. Graphite electrode consumption is reduced by over 30%, significantly cutting operational costs and making it suitable for large-scale refining demands.
Additionally, it offers environmental sustainability and process controllability. Paired with a dedicated flue gas purification system, it controls pollutants like dioxins and heavy metals within national standards, avoiding contamination issues inherent in traditional processes. Simultaneously, the stable high-temperature melting process enables precise reaction condition control, making it suitable for refining diverse precious metal-containing wastes such as ternary catalysts and scrap circuit boards.
Platinum
Precious metal extraction
Precious metal extraction
