Electronic Waste & Precious Metals
Recovering value from electronic waste and precious metals
Reclaim the Hidden Value
- Up to 99.99% metal purity
- LBMA-grade, bank-approved ingots
- Minimal pre-treatment required
- Scalable from 0.5 to 15+ kt/y
- Proven TRL 9 technology
- Eight plants delivered worldwide
Every year, the world throws away metals it cannot afford to lose. According to the UN, 62 million tonnes of e-waste were generated globally in 2022; a figure expected to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030. Yet only about 22% was formally collected and recycled. For the remaining 78% the gold, silver, copper and platinum-group metals locked in this material are lost.
This also includes spent catalysts, end-of-life batteries and other industrial residues containing copper, precious metals, and the untapped pool grows further.
Recovering these metals is not always straightforward, as the feedstock is mixed and variable. But at the same time, rising metal prices and tighter rules on critical raw materials, have turned it from a nice-to-have into a global business and strategic priority.
Through our NX Remida technology, you can turn the waste into bank-approved ingots with purity up to 99.99%.
How the Recovery Process Works
NX Remida combines high-temperature smelting in a proprietary TBRC (Top-Blown Rotary Converter) with a multi-stage chemical and electrochemical refining line. This integrated pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical approach is at TRL 9 and validated in real operating conditions.
Since the process can handle mixed feedstock with minimal pre-treatment, it is suitable for materials that can be challenging for other recovery routes, including waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
The feedstock can also include high-value PCBs, spent catalysts, batteries, PV panels and assorted metal residues, all processed through the same core flowsheet.
From Furnace to Finished Metal
At Nextchem, we deliver NX Remida as an end-to-end package, with a scope tailored to your existing capabilities and requirements:
- Equipment supply: NX Remida TBRC with fumes treatment system, plus key smelting, refining and laboratory systems sourced from top-tier suppliers.
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Process integration: the full pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical process, from waste to finished ingots, engineered around the client's specific feedstock.
- 360° technology integration: where required, NX Remida can be tailored and integrated with our wider portfolio to recover value beyond precious metals (for example, copper, acid or other critical raw materials).
However, hardware is only part of the equation. Process conditions and controls also play a critical role in determining recovery rates.
These include proprietary furnace operating recipes tailored to the client's feedstock, analytical know-how for accurate feedstock pricing, engineering and layout design, and full training and technology transfer to the client's team.
This combination of technology, process know-how, and engineering has been applied across plants of different scales, from 0.5 up to 15+ kt/y, with a flagship 18,000 t/y reference plant in Italy, and eight installations delivered worldwide.
Looking to recover more value from your waste streams? Fill in the form below to discuss your feedstock and site requirements with our team.
Nextchem provides:
- Plant assessment
- Feasibility studies
- Technology licensing
- Proprietary Equipment
- Revamps and plant debottlenecking
- Full Life Cycle Support
Precious Metals and Rare Earths Treatment
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