Due to its rarity, Platinum is a highly valuable metal. It can be found as native platinum or as a chemically combined alloy, most commonly with other platinum group elements. Platinum lends its name to the platinum-group metal (PGM) family of 6 transition metals (ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium and platinum) that sit together on the periodic table. Platinum group metals can occur in nickel and copper deposits as sulfides (Pt,Pd)S), tellurides (PtBiTe), antimonides (PdSb), arsenides (PtAs2) and in an alloy with nickel and copper itself. The Merensky Reef rock formation in South Africa contains 75% of the worlds known platinum.
Where PGMs are found in sufficient concentrations, PGMs are exclusively extracted through an aqua regia leach. Ammonium chloride is then added to the solution to precipitate ammonium hexachloroplatinate which can be converted to platinum metal when heated. Platinum is also produced as a by-product from hydrometallurgical copper and nickel processes. During the electrorefining process, PGMs settle to the bottom as anode mud.
Range of Capabilities:
- Metallurgical testplans
- Project management
- Metallurgical summary reports
- Flowsheets
- Mass balances
- P&IDs
- Vendor evaluation
- Project implementation
- Engineering studies
- Environmental studies
- Process description/Equipment lists
- Detailed design
Please send through your enquiry today via email to info@metsengineering.com and we will call you to discuss your project.
Project Experience:
| Client | Project | Service |
|---|---|---|
| PGM | Confidential | Residue Pilot Plans |
| Pilbara PFM | Confidential | Testwork |
| PFM Technology | Confidential | Review |
| Confidential | Kimberly Platinum Project | Confidential |
| Niplats | Speewah Project | Confidential |
| Thundellara Exploration Ltd | East Kimberly | Confidential |
Sharing Our Knowledge:
Mineral Processing Course
We offer a course that gives participants in-depth knowledge of the broader aspects of mineral processing. A wide range of topics is covered and participants will gain an understanding of the fundamental unit processes, equipment and flowsheets as well as physical and chemical mineral processing principles. Read more about our course here.