Frequently Asked Questions

We purchase:

• CERAMIC AND METAL FOIL CATALYTIC CONVERTERS
• ELECTRONIC AND HYBRID VEHICLE BATTERIES
• ALTERNATORS
• STARTERS
• AC COMPRESSORS
• ECM
• CAR RADIO
• COPPER
• WIRES

We offer 2 types of purchasing: direct purchasing or purchasing by assay.

Direct purchasing:

• The converters can either be collected at your place or handed over at our warehouse.
• On site evaluation.
• Transparent, consistent grading of your catalytic converters.
• Full amount paid immediately on site or via wire transfer/check/cash.
• Friendly and profit-building relationship with a professional and dedicated catalytic converter grader.
• Current grade prices are available on request.

Purchasing by assay:

• The catalytic converters or loose ceramic material for assay can be collected at your location or sent to ours.
• Based on visual assessment we pay up to 80% of the estimated value instantly.
• Accurately determining quantities of platinum, palladium, and rhodium in your lot typically requires up to 3 working days for small quantities and up to 14 working days for large quantities. After this assessment period, the remaining payment can be processed immediately.
• Trading your metals with us will ensure you receive the highest return on your catalytic converters.
• Terms and conditions are available on request.

The main constitutive parts of a calculated price of automotive catalysts are the following: weight of a catalyst and the amount of precious metals that the catalyst contains. The price of precious metals is not stable – the fluctuation of the prices is constantly announced by London noble metals’ market. This inflicts the change on the automotive catalysts purchase price.

To get a price, simply call us or use a live chat and get your catalytic converter priced instantly.

The most valuable part of the whole converter is the catalyst, which is composed of precious metals – platinum, palladium and rhodium. Although these metals have similarities, some of their qualities differ – for example, rhodium is the best metal for removing nitrogen oxides while platinum is the best catalyst for completing the burning of fuel in the exhaust. Because of varying requirements for the converter, there are numerous combinations of platinum, palladium and rhodium in use.

Recycling these metals from converters takes a lot of effort but their rarity in nature and their high value makes it economically feasible.

It is a converter with ceramic-based monolith – most often made of a mineral called cordierite. Over 90 percent of automotive catalytic converters worldwide are ceramic, thus making it our most common purchase material. A ceramic catalytic converter is made by covering the honeycomb-like, porous ceramic monolith with oxide washcoat, which acts as support for the precious metal particles. These particles act as the active catalyst, yet typically only constitute about 1% – 2% by mass in the washcoat (not the whole converter!).  The monolith is then installed into a steel case and becomes a part of the exhaust system. As for all catalytic converters, the large active surface area ensures efficiency, which is vital when high amounts of pollutants are to be converted in a fraction of a second.

When a ceramic converter is due to be recycled, it is firstly cut open and the ceramic monolith is removed and ground to fine powder. Then its elemental composition can be estimated using different methods of   X-ray spectrometry before starting the actual recovery of the metals. While it is not compulsory to start the process of recycling by grinding, it is the best method for determining the value of the converter in advance of chemical recovery and allows converters to be bought without long delays.

Metal foil catalytic converters serve the same function as their ceramic counterparts – the main difference being the monolith on which the catalyst is deposited. Instead of a porous ceramic monolith, a honeycomb made of metal foil is used. A specific alloy, Kanthal, which consists of iron, chromium and aluminum, is often used due to its high resistance to heat.

The recycling process of metallic catalytic converters is more difficult than that of ceramic ones because the metal foil cannot be ground into powder in such a manner as is done with ceramics. Instead, by extensive grounding and milling the washcoat is removed from the metal foil support and then recycled.