BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) has completed the installation and startup of new high-performance equipment at its Seneca, South Carolina operation, which will more than double the precious metals milling and sampling production capacity there.
The Seneca site serves as BASF’s global production hub for the recycling of end-of-life automotive and chemical catalysts, allowing for the efficient recovery and recycling of platinum group metals (PGMs.)
“Our investment in this high-performance equipment allows us to increase precious metals recycling at the Seneca site to meet growing market demand,” said David Freidinger, BASF Vice President, Precious Metals Recycling & Refining. “This also supports our strategy to offer superior quality in our recycling services.”
Automotive catalytic converters are one of the largest industrial applications for PGMs, accounting for more than half of the world’s annual mining output. When a catalytic converter is scrapped, the precious metal contained inside can be recycled, creating a sustainable secondary supply source for such limited global resources.