Precious Metal Purchase and Toll Refining

Two settlement models. One certified process. Full documentation on every transaction.

Two Ways to Work With Us

Both models are based on the same certified analysis and full process transparency.

Suran Recycling offers two service models for companies that generate precious metal-bearing waste streams. The right model depends on your procurement structure, tax position, and how you prefer to account for the transaction. Both models use the same intake procedures, the same certified laboratory analysis, and the same documentation package.

Precious Metal Purchase

We acquire your material outright at a price based on certified analysis.

In a purchase arrangement, Suran Recycling acquires ownership of your precious metal-bearing material at the point of intake. After certified laboratory analysis determines the recoverable precious metal content, we present a settlement offer calculated against current market benchmarks and your contractual terms. You receive the full documentation package and the agreed settlement value.

This model suits companies that prefer a clean, single-transaction arrangement with immediate value realisation and no retained material exposure.

You receive:

Intake weight certificate
Certified analytical report (fire assay / ICP-OES)
Settlement calculation with price basis
Settlement confirmation document
Chain of custody record on request

Toll Refining

You retain ownership of the metal content throughout the process.

In a toll refining arrangement, you retain legal ownership of the precious metal content in your material. Suran Recycling processes the material, determines the precious metal content through certified analysis, and returns the value to you in the agreed form — as physical metal or as a cash settlement based on the certified weight and composition.

This model is preferred by companies with specific accounting, tax, or procurement requirements around ownership transfer, or those who wish to maintain direct exposure to the metal price at the point of settlement.

You receive:

Intake weight certificate
Certified analytical report (fire assay / ICP-OES)
Processing confirmation
Return settlement in agreed form
Full chain of custody documentation

Precious Metal Management

Beyond settlement, we support the ongoing management of your precious metal position.

For corporate clients with recurring material streams, Suran Recycling provides a structured precious metal management service that goes beyond individual transactions. Rather than treating each batch as a standalone event, we work with your procurement and finance teams to develop a framework that aligns material intake, analysis scheduling, settlement timing, and documentation with your operational and reporting cycles.

This is particularly relevant for clients with continuous production waste streams — plating operations, automotive manufacturers, electronics producers — where the volume and cadence of material is predictable and a managed approach to recovery delivers better value and lower administrative overhead than ad-hoc transactions.

You receive:

Agreed intake schedule aligned to your production cycle
Pre-negotiated settlement terms with defined pricing mechanisms
Consolidated documentation for accounting and ESG reporting periods
Dedicated point of contact for all material and settlement queries
Priority processing for contracted volumes

Not Sure Which Model Fits Your Operations?

Our team will review your material stream and procurement requirements and recommend the right arrangement.

Materials We Accept

If your operations generate it, we have the process for it.

Suran Recycling works with the full range of corporate precious metal-bearing waste streams. Each material category has its own processing and analysis pathway. If your material is not listed below, contact our team for an individual assessment.

Catalytic Converters — Automotive

Automotive catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters are our core material stream. Suran Recycling offers purchase, toll refining, and fast settlement for corporate operators who generate spent converters through dismantling, fleet decommissioning, or scrap operations.

Both ceramic monolith and metal foil converter types are accepted. Each requires a different processing approach — our team will advise on the appropriate pathway based on your material.

Ceramic and Metal Foil Converters

Catalytic converters contain either a ceramic monolith or a metal foil substrate carrying platinum, palladium, and rhodium. Both types are processed through our certified sampling and analysis system. The substrate type determines the processing pathway and is identified at intake.

Diesel Particulate Filters

Diesel particulate filters (DPFs) differ significantly from standard automotive catalytic converters. Conventional automotive catalytic converters consist of approximately 1 kg of cordierite ceramic, which can be processed through standard smelting. DPFs typically consist of approximately 2 to 3 kg of silicon carbide (SiC), which requires a separate oxidising smelting process to convert the carbon content before precious metal recovery is possible.

Mixing ACC and DPF material makes precious metal recovery significantly more difficult and in some cases impossible above a certain contamination level. Suran Recycling processes both types separately and has the technical capability to determine total carbon content in accordance with DIN EN ISO 21068-2:2008.

How to Identify the Material Type

Standard ACC monolith: approximately 1 kg, cordierite ceramic, light grey colour
DPF based on aluminium titanate: approximately 1 kg, similar in appearance to ACC
DPF based on SiC: approximately 2 to 3 kg, grey surface, black ceramic, bonded cuboid structure with light-coloured edges

If you are unsure of the material type in your lot, contact our team before dispatch. Correct separation at source protects the value of your material.

Purchase of Catalytic Converters

In a purchase arrangement, your catalytic converters are sorted and valued on the basis of current precious metal market prices. Our team sorts your material using defined material categories — transparently, fairly, and with full documentation under applicable waste legislation.

How it works

Contact our team to arrange a collection or intake appointment
Material is sorted and valued on arrival using current daily precious metal prices
Documentation is completed under waste legislation requirements
Settlement and payment are issued promptly

Your advantages

Transparent sorting and valuation based on defined material categories
Pricing aligned to current daily precious metal market rates
Full waste legislation documentation
Prompt settlement and payment

Toll Refining of Catalytic Converters

In a toll refining arrangement, your catalytic converters are processed through our sampling system and settled on the basis of certified precious metal analysis. You retain ownership of the metal content throughout the process.

On receipt, your material is weighed and registered against your contract. Converters are dismantled and processed through our homogenisation system to produce a fine, uniform powder. A representative sample of approximately 100 grams — representative of several tonnes of material — is then prepared in our laboratory for precious metal analysis by ICP-OES. Settlement is based on the confirmed analytical result.

For ceramic catalytic converters, an interim advance payment option is available based on XRF analysis, which provides results more rapidly than full wet-chemical analysis.

Flexible payment models

Spot price fixing with subsequent payment at agreed date
Precious metal account management
Physical return of precious metals, for example in bar form

How it works

Material received and registered at our facility
Dismantling and homogenisation processing
XRF analysis — advance payment possible at this stage
Wet-chemical ICP-OES analysis
Settlement based on certified ICP-OES result

Your advantages

Settlement based on high-precision wet-chemical analysis (ICP-OES)
Advance payment option based on XRF analysis available after processing
Flexible payment and precious metal management options
Full waste legislation documentation

Fast Settlement

Fast settlement is available for ceramic catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters. In this model, your material is purchased on the basis of XRF analysis, which is available approximately 10 working days after receipt. This makes fast settlement viable even for smaller quantities.

Our processing system is specifically designed to handle smaller batches efficiently, making fast settlement an economically sound option where full ICP-OES toll refining would not be cost-effective at the volume.

How it works

Material received and registered at our facility
Advance payment option available on receipt of goods
Processing and XRF analysis — results available approximately 10 working days after receipt
Final purchase settlement completed once XRF results are confirmed

Your advantages

Advance payment option on receipt of goods
Settlement based on XRF analysis — faster turnaround than full wet-chemical process
Viable for smaller quantities through our purpose-built sampling system
Full waste legislation documentation

Not sure which model suits your material or volume? Contact our team and we will recommend the right approach before any material moves.

Catalytic Converters — Trucks and Heavy Vehicles

Heavy commercial vehicle exhaust aftertreatment systems require specific handling due to their volume, weight, and material complexity. Suran Recycling offers purchase, toll refining, and fast settlement for truck catalytic converters and filters — with logistics support included.

Euro VI systems, in use since 2014, are coated with platinum and palladium and represent significant recoverable value. Older Euro IV and V systems generally do not carry a precious metal coating but should still be recycled in an environmentally sound manner.

System Types and Euro Standards

Different exhaust aftertreatment systems are fitted depending on the manufacturer and emission standard. Common components include:

Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) — carrier material: silicon carbide, aluminium titanate, or cordierite
Oxidation Catalyst
SCR Catalytic Converter (Selective Catalytic Reduction)
ASC (Ammonia Slip Catalyst)

Precious Metal Content by Euro Standard

Euro IV and V — exhaust aftertreatment systems do not, as a rule, carry a precious metal coating. Recovery is still recommended for environmental compliance.
Euro VI — systems coated with platinum and palladium. These carry significant recoverable precious metal value.

Material Requirement

Truck exhaust aftertreatment systems or individual components contaminated with oil are excluded from acceptance. A visual inspection is carried out before dismantling. If contaminated systems are identified after intake, a flat handling charge applies and no payment is made for those units. Please ensure material is free of oil contamination before dispatch.

Purchase of Truck Catalytic Converters

In a purchase arrangement, your truck catalytic converters are evaluated and acquired by Suran Recycling based on our material database and current precious metal market prices. Due to the volume and weight of complete exhaust systems, collection logistics must be arranged in advance. Our team coordinates this as part of the service.

How it works

Contact our team to arrange collection logistics
Material evaluated on arrival against our catalytic converter database
Documentation issued in compliance with applicable waste legislation
Settlement confirmed and payment issued promptly

Your advantages

Evaluation based on a defined material database — transparent and consistent
Full waste management legislation documentation
Prompt settlement and payment

Toll Refining of Truck Catalytic Converters

In toll refining, settlement is based on exact wet-chemical ICP-OES analysis. You retain ownership of the precious metal content throughout the process. Your material is processed, homogenised, sampled, and analysed in our laboratory. For ceramic material, an advance payment option is available based on XRF analysis while the full ICP-OES analysis is completed.

Additional services available as part of toll refining agreements:

Transport coordination — including customs clearance and waste legislation compliance
Re-use assessment — diesel particulate filters carefully dismantled and returned after visual inspection where applicable
Component separation — non-precious-metal components separated and routed for recycling
Empties management — management and return of containers

How it works

Material received, weighed, and allocated to contract
Processing and homogenisation
XRF analysis — advance payment option available at this stage for ceramic material
Wet-chemical ICP-OES analysis
Settlement based on confirmed ICP-OES result

Payment options

Fixing of precious metals with subsequent payment
Maintaining and managing a precious metal account
Physical provision of precious metals in agreed form

Your advantages

Settlement based on high-precision wet-chemical analysis (ICP-OES)
Advance payment available based on XRF analysis for ceramic material
Flexible payment models adapted to your procurement structure
Additional logistics and component management services available

Fast Settlement

If you dismantle your truck exhaust systems in-house and send individual components for recycling, fast settlement is the most straightforward option. Settlement is based on XRF analysis, with results available approximately 10 working days after receipt. This model is viable from 500 kg upwards thanks to our small-batch sampling system.

How it works

Material received at our facility
Advance payment option available on receipt
Processing and XRF analysis
Analysis results available approximately 10 working days after receipt
Final purchase settlement completed once XRF results are confirmed

Your advantages

Advance payment option available upon receipt of goods
Viable from 500 kg upwards
Settlement based on readily available XRF analysis
Full waste management legislation documentation

Not sure which settlement model suits your material or volume? Contact our team and we will assess your lot and recommend the right approach.

Catalytic Converters — Industrial

Many industrial applications rely on exhaust gas aftertreatment systems to reduce harmful emissions and comply with statutory environmental standards. At the end of their operational life, the precious metals contained in these systems — predominantly platinum, and in some cases palladium and rhodium — are recovered and returned to the production cycle as secondary raw materials.

Applications We Cover

Stationary installations:

Biogas and natural gas plants
Coffee roasting facilities
Industrial process plants

Mobile applications:

Buses
Construction machinery
Ships

Material Requirement

A material safety data sheet (MSDS) is required for all industrial catalytic converter lots submitted for toll refining. This ensures correct and safe processing of the material at our facility. Please provide the MSDS when arranging intake.

For metal carrier foil converters submitted for purchase, the condition of the foil is a key valuation factor. The foil must be intact and free of burn damage. Missing sections of foil will reduce the assessed value of the material.

Purchase of Industrial Catalytic Converters

Suran Recycling purchases industrial catalytic converters from biogas plants, natural gas installations, and other stationary and mobile applications. Valuation is based on the physical dimensions and condition of the converter — depth, diameter, and the quality of the metal carrier foil are the primary factors.

How it works

Contact our team to arrange collection or intake logistics
Material assessed on arrival against defined valuation criteria
Documentation issued in compliance with applicable waste legislation
Settlement confirmed and payment issued promptly

Your advantages

Transparent valuation based on defined physical criteria
Collection by our team at an agreed date
Prompt payment after assessment

Toll Refining of Industrial Catalytic Converters

In toll refining, settlement is based on exact wet-chemical ICP-OES analysis. You retain ownership of the precious metal content throughout the process. As soon as your material arrives at our facility, the exact weight is recorded and allocated to your contract. The converters are dismantled, processed through our recycling equipment, and reduced to a homogeneous powder. A representative sample of approximately 100 grams is then prepared in our laboratory for precious metal analysis, representative of several tonnes of material.

For ceramic industrial catalytic converters, an advance payment option is available based on XRF analysis while the full ICP-OES analysis is completed. Toll refining is particularly suited to larger volumes where the precision of wet-chemical analysis delivers the greatest return.

How it works

Material received, weighed, and allocated to contract
Dismantling and processing to homogeneous powder
XRF analysis — advance payment option available at this stage for ceramic material
Wet-chemical ICP-OES analysis
Settlement based on confirmed ICP-OES result

Payment options

Fixing of precious metals with subsequent payment
Maintaining and managing a precious metal account
Physical provision of precious metals in agreed form

Your advantages

Settlement based on high-precision wet-chemical analysis (ICP-OES)
Advance payment available based on XRF analysis for ceramic material
Flexible payment models adapted to your procurement structure
Reproducible sampling procedure — 100g sample representative of several tonnes

Not sure which model applies to your material? Contact our team with a description of your material stream and we will recommend the right approach.

Electronic Waste (E-Scrap)

Precious metal recovery from electronic components — for corporate operators who generate e-scrap as part of their production or decommissioning cycles.

Electronic devices across every industry contain recoverable quantities of gold, palladium, silver, and platinum. Circuit boards, processors, memory modules, and connectors all carry precious metals that can be recovered and returned to productive use. Suran Recycling offers purchase and toll refining solutions for corporate e-scrap streams, adapted to the type, composition, and volume of your material.

Materials We Accept

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) — standard, high-frequency, and mixed grades
CPUs and processors
RAM modules
Class 3 electronic assemblies
Mixed electronic components
Server boards and telecom equipment
Connector and contact lots

Material Requirements

Material should be dry and free of large metal frames, pipes, or structural components. The following must be absent from any lot: batteries and lithium-ion cells, mercury-containing components, PCB/PCT-containing capacitors, and radioactive material.

Waste code numbers accepted: 16 02 14 · 16 02 16 · 16 02 15

Purchase of Electronic Waste

Your electronic components are evaluated and acquired by Suran Recycling against current precious metal market prices. Valuation is transparent and based on material classification and composition. Sorting your material by type and grade before submission increases the accuracy of the valuation and the value you receive.

How it works

Contact our team to arrange intake logistics
Material is classified and evaluated on arrival
Settlement is confirmed and payment issued promptly

Your advantages

Transparent valuation based on material classification
Prompt payment after evaluation
Environmentally compliant processing across all material types

Toll Refining of E-Scrap

Your electronic components are processed through our sampling system and settled on the basis of certified precious metal analysis. You retain ownership of the metal content throughout the process. Your material undergoes controlled mechanical processing through multiple size reduction stages, producing a homogeneous powder suitable for further refining at our certified refinery partners. A representative sample is extracted for analysis by ICP-OES and the settlement calculation is based on the confirmed result.

How it works

Material received and registered at our facility
Mechanical processing and homogenisation
Representative sampling and ICP-OES analysis
Settlement based on certified analysis result

Your advantages

Settlement based on certified wet-chemical analysis (ICP-OES)
Advance payment option available after material receipt
Flexible settlement and precious metal management options
Environmentally compliant processing throughout

Fuel Cells

Hydrogen technology is reshaping energy production and transportation. Fuel cells and electrolysers depend on precious metals — platinum, iridium, and ruthenium — as well as other critical raw materials including cobalt, graphite, rare earths, and titanium. Suran Recycling applies its established PGM expertise to the recovery of these materials across the full lifecycle of fuel cell and electrolyser components.

Applications We Cover

Fuel cell applications:

Stationary fuel cell systems for power generation
Automotive and commercial vehicle fuel cell stacks
PAFC fuel cell systems

Electrolyser applications:

PEM electrolysers for hydrogen production
Alkaline electrolyser components
Industrial hydrogen production installations

Materials We Accept

Complete fuel cell stacks and electrolysers
Individual components: MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly), CCM (Catalyst Coated Membrane), BPP (Bipolar Plates)
Production scrap and process waste: catalyst ink, wipes, absorption material, paste residues, electrode material with platinum ink

What We Recover

Beyond platinum group metals, fuel cells and electrolysers contain critical raw materials that must be recovered to close the material cycle. Suran Recycling recovers:

Platinum group metals (platinum, iridium, ruthenium)
Ionomer — recovered for reuse in new membranes
Other critical raw materials: cobalt, graphite, rare earths, titanium

Both PGMs and ionomer recovered through our process carry a significantly lower CO₂ footprint than the same materials produced through primary extraction.

Our Services

Our core expertise lies in precise sampling and analysis of individual components and materials. Each component is prepared to produce a homogeneous sample suitable for further analysis. Using established analytical methods, we determine the exact PGM content and critical raw material composition.

Services available

Dismantling of complete fuel cell stacks, electrolysers, and PAFC systems
Separation of individual components by material fraction
Recycling of individual fractions
Recovery of PGMs and other critical raw materials
Certified precious metal analysis
Transport organisation and coordination
Attractive precious metal remuneration models tailored to your requirements

Settlement options

Purchase
Toll refining
Customised recovery models for production scrap and ongoing waste streams

Circular Economy Commitment

Our approach is holistic — from the dismantling of entire fuel cell stacks to the separation of individual components and the recovery of each raw material fraction for reuse in new products. We work with industry partners to ensure that important resources are conserved and material cycles are closed rather than broken.

Fuel cell and electrolyser material streams vary significantly by manufacturer, technology, and application. Contact our team with a description of your material and we will develop a customised recovery model for your requirements.

Additional Materials

Precious metals are present in a wider range of industrial and automotive components than is commonly recognised. Beyond catalytic converters and e-scrap, many corporate waste streams contain recoverable quantities of platinum, gold, silver, palladium, and rhodium. Suran Recycling assesses each material type individually and develops the right recovery approach based on composition, volume, and your operational requirements.

Gold Plating and Chemical Solutions

Spent gold plating baths, rinse waters, and process solutions from electroplating and electronics manufacturing operations contain recoverable gold and other precious metals in dissolved form. Recovery is achieved through controlled precipitation and refining. We accept bulk liquid lots from corporate operators.

Settlement options

Purchase
Toll refining

Radiological Film and Photographic Paper

Radiological X-ray film and photographic paper contain silver in the emulsion layer. Processing involves controlled dissolution and silver recovery. We accept archive lots and operational waste from medical imaging facilities, industrial inspection operations, and photographic processing businesses.

Settlement options

Purchase
Toll refining

Developing Solutions

Spent photographic and radiological developing solutions contain dissolved silver accumulated during the imaging process. Suran Recycling accepts bulk liquid lots for silver recovery. Lots are assessed individually based on silver concentration and volume.

Settlement options

Purchase
Toll refining

Oxygen Sensors

Automotive and industrial oxygen sensors contain a ceramic body fitted with gas-permeable platinum electrodes. The platinum content makes these components worth recovering, and our process is adapted to the specific composition of this material. Recovery is available for both small batches and larger quantities.

Settlement options

Purchase
Toll refining

Control Units, Spark Plugs and Wiring Harnesses

Electronic control units, spark plugs, and wiring harnesses each contain precious metals in specific components — platinum in spark plug electrodes, gold and palladium in control unit contacts and connectors. Suran Recycling processes these materials through recovery routes tailored to each product type. Both individual component lots and mixed streams are accepted for assessment.

Settlement options

Purchase
Toll refining

Ores and Concentrates

Mineral ores and process concentrates containing platinum group metals or gold are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Contact our team with a material description, estimated composition, and volume for an initial assessment.

Settlement options

Purchase
Toll refining

Jewelry and Trade Sweeps

Precious metal sweeps from jewelry manufacturing, polishing dust, and bench waste are accepted from trade operators. Material is sampled and analysed for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium content. Both small batches and larger production lots are assessed individually.

Settlement options

Purchase
Toll refining

If your material is not listed above, contact our team with a brief description. We assess all corporate precious metal-bearing waste streams individually and respond within one business day.

Not sure if your material qualifies?

Our team will review your material stream and procurement requirements and recommend the right arrangement.

From Intake to Settlement

Three steps. No surprises.

Step 01

Submit Your Material

Contact our team with a description of your material stream: type, estimated volume, and how frequently you generate it. We confirm whether the material is suitable for our process and agree on intake logistics, documentation requirements, and the settlement model before any material moves.

Step 02

Certified Analysis

Your material is received at our facility, weighed, registered, and processed through our controlled homogenisation and sampling procedure. A representative sample is analysed by fire assay and ICP-OES. You receive the full analytical report before any settlement figure is confirmed.

Step 03

Settlement

Based on the certified analysis result and your agreed settlement terms, we present a transparent settlement calculation. You review, confirm, and receive the settlement value along with the complete documentation package for your records.

Note: Your reference sample is retained throughout the process. If you require independent verification of the analysis result, a split sample can be sent to a third-party laboratory of your choice before settlement is confirmed.

Questions & Answers

What is the difference between purchase and toll refining?

In a purchase arrangement, Suran Recycling acquires your material outright and pays you the settlement value based on certified analysis. In toll refining, you retain ownership of the precious metal content throughout the process. We recover and refine the metals and return the value to you in the agreed form. The right model depends on your accounting structure, tax position, and procurement requirements.