catalytic converters

[rennie]

I am just wondering if platinum is as heavy or nearly as heavy as gold? Can it be panned like gold? Could you take the ceramic parts of a catalytic converters and pound them like gold baring ore and then pan it out? I am just a dumb old country boy wondering??

[Ant]

I am just wondering if platinum is as heavy or nearly as heavy as gold? Can it be panned like gold? Could you take the ceramic parts of a catalytic converters and pound them like gold baring ore and then pan it out? I am just a dumb old country boy wondering??

It’s heavy than gold. The most common way to extract microscopic platinum from the catalyst is by chemical extraction using an acid mixture called aqua regia (royal water), a nitric and hydrochloric acid mixture.

[rennie]

I don't want to mess with chemicals. It seems that you could use an apparatus like a stamp mill and do it like the old timers did. It would not impact the environment so much??

[Ant]

I don't want to mess with chemicals. It seems that you could use an apparatus like a stamp mill and do it like the old timers did. It would not impact the environment so much??

We’re talking microscopic particles, not visible stuff. The platinum in the catalyst that automobile catalytic converters use needs to be set in suspension for extraction. Acid can be naturalized so that it doesn’t affect the environment. Of course, you would need some experience working with chemicals. If it was as easy as panning or whatever we would all be platinum rich, but it’s not, so we keep wishing and thinking of efficient of ways to extract it.