Advanced precious metal analysis
At Sibanye-Stillwater Recycling operations, our precious metal analytical laboratory is a critical component of our precious metal recycling and refining operations. Staffed by a team of highly experienced technicians, the laboratory is equipped to accurately detect and quantify a wide range of precious metals across diverse material types
Why accurate precious metal analysis matters
Precise analytical results are essential to fair valuation, optimized recovery, and customer confidence. Advanced laboratory capabilities ensure that every processed lot is evaluated accurately, supporting reliable settlement and downstream refining decisions.
Partnering with Sibanye-Stillwater Recycling operations ensures:
- Accurate determination of precious metal type and content
- Reliable valuation supported by industry-proven analytical methods
- Transparency and consistency across all processed materials
- Support for sustainability and responsible resource recovery
State-of-the-art laboratory facilities
Our custom-built analytical laboratories reinforce Sibanye-Stillwater’s position among leading precious metal recycling companies. All analytical equipment operates within a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment, ensuring consistent performance and data integrity.
Key laboratory capabilities include:
- Upgraded precision balances
- New Cupellation furnaces
- Fire Assay furnaces
- Carbon Analyzer
- XRF equipment for rapid preliminary analysis
- ICP instrumentation for high-sensitivity elemental detection
Advanced analytical methods
After precious metal–bearing materials are processed on the refinery floor, representative samples from each lot are submitted to the analytical laboratory for evaluation. Our technicians analyze samples to determine precious metal type and concentration using a comprehensive range of proven methodologies, including:
Fire assay
Titration
Chemical analysis
Gravimetric analysis
X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP)
Know your metals
The Know your metals resource helps you understand how precious metals are used across industries. Explore each metal’s commercial applications, the types of waste streams it commonly appears in, and the recovery technologies used to reclaim it.
Au
Gold
Ag
Silver
Pt
Platinum
Pd
Palladium
Rh
Rhodium
Ir
Iridium
Gold
Gold is a critical precious metal valued for its excellent conductivity, corrosion resistance, and stability, with extensive use in semiconductor fabrication, electroplating, connector fabrication and assembly, medical device and jewelry manufacturing.
Gold frequently occurs in industrial waste streams such as spent plating solutions, filters, resin, sludges, stamping scrap, contact pins and karat jewelry.
Silver
Silver is a widely used precious metal known for its high electrical conductivity, antimicrobial properties, and reflectivity, making it essential in microelectronics, medical applications, film coating, chemical processing, jewelry manufacturing, electroplating and stamping industries.
Silver-bearing waste streams often include spent plating baths, filters, sludges and stampings.
Explore silver-bearing waste streams:
Platinum
Platinum is a critical precious metal widely used in pharmaceutical catalysts, jewelry manufacturing, automotive catalytic converters, fuel cell/electrolyzer applications, fiberglass manufacturing, and the aircraft/aerospace, microelectronics and medical industries.
Due to its chemical stability and catalytic properties, platinum frequently appears in industrial waste streams such as spent catalyst, acidic process solutions, plating baths, filter media, implantable medical components, fiberglass bushings and refractory, fuel cell MEAs, thermocouple wire, machining kerf, shavings and turnings.
Explore platinum-bearing waste streams:
- Jewellery manufacture
- Discarded electronic devices and electronics manufacturing
- Electroplating operations
- Medical device manufacturing and healthcare operations
- Defense manufacturing and maintenance operations
- Glass manufacturing
- Pharmaceuticals manufacture
- Industrial catalysts
- Automotive catalytic converters
- Nitric acid manufacture
Palladium
Palladium is a precious metal widely used in automotive catalytic converters, specialty chemical catalyst, conductive pastes, microelectronics/ceramic capacitors.
Owing to its excellent catalytic performance and electrical conductivity, palladium is commonly found in industrial waste streams such as spent catalysts, sludges, filter media, fired/green ceramic, thick film wipes & jars, canned/decanned catalytic converters and spent environmental catalysts.
Explore palladium-bearing waste streams:
- Jewellery manufacture
- Discarded electronic devices and electronics manufacturing
- Electroplating operations
- Medical device manufacturing and healthcare operations
- Defense manufacturing and maintenance operations
- Pharmaceuticals manufacture
- Industrial catalysts
- Automotive catalytic converters
- Nitric acid manufacture
Rhodium
Rhodium is a rare and valuable precious metal primarily used in automotive catalytic converters, chemical catalysts, fiberglass manufacturing, and plating industries.
Its high reflectivity and resistance to corrosion result in rhodium being found in waste streams including catalytic converters, spent plating baths, filters, fiberglass bushings and refractory.
Explore rhodium-bearing waste streams:
Iridium
Iridium is an extremely durable and corrosion-resistant precious metal used in chemical processing equipment, fuel cell manufacturing, specialty catalyst, and medical devices.
Due to its use in high-temperature and highly corrosive environments, iridium is commonly found in waste streams including electrolyzer scrap, spent coating solutions, spent catalyst and filters, medical device components such as electrodes, marker bands and cath tips.
Explore iridium-bearing waste streams:
Environmental, health & safety
The analytical laboratory is designed to provide a superior level of safety and comfort for laboratory personnel. Highly efficient filtration and ventilation systems protect employees from contaminants, fumes, and dust, while ensuring emissions released to the atmosphere meet strict environmental standards.
Integrated processing across departments
The precious metal analytical laboratory works in close coordination with all departments within our refining process. This integrated approach ensures representative sampling, analytical accuracy, and consistent outcomes across the entire precious metal recycling process.
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Mechanical reduction
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Thermal reduction
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Wet chemistry
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Precious metal melt
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Electronic material classification
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Auto catalyst recycling
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Cleaning & recovery
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Bead blasting
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Granulation
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Transportation & logistics
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Analytical laboratory
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Partner with Sibanye-Stillwater recycling operations
We support our partners with customized recycling programs aligned to their business and sustainability goals. Our analytical expertise provides confidence, transparency, and precision—helping customers convert complex materials into measurable value.
