Low-Concentration Precious Metal Recovery Business

Toward a society with zero precious metal discharge in wastewater

We recover low-concentration precious metals that have traditionally been discharged and lost because recovery was not economically viable, using compact systems that can be integrated into existing processes. By sharing the value of recovered resources with our customers, we combine resource circulation with economic viability.

This business efficiently recovers precious metals, including palladium, from ultra-low concentrations (0.1 ppm or higher). Using synthesis technology that forms Dual Pore silica with a dual structure, we recover precious metals from wastewater and rinse water generated in electronic component manufacturing and chemical synthesis processes. We currently operate a joint recovery and revenue-sharing business model with customers in both domestic and overseas markets.

What is the DualPoreSystem (DPS technology)?

By combining pores and through holes with surface modification technology, DPS achieves both high adsorption performance and high liquid permeability.

DPS technology achieves both high adsorption capacity and high liquid permeability through a “dual structure” of pores and through holes, together with surface modification.

  • Pores (nanoscale)

    Countless pores exist inside each particle and serve to adsorb and recover substances.

  • Through holes (microscale)

    Channels that penetrate the particles like a jungle gym, allowing liquids and substances to quickly reach deep inside the particles.

  • Surface modification

    Ligands that bind to specific precious metals are chemically attached so that the material selectively adsorbs precious metals.

Figure 1. Difference between Generic Silica Particles and DualPore Particles

Advantages of DPS Technology

DPS cartridges enable easy and rapid adsorption and recovery.

Figure 2: Comparison between the conventional precious metal recovery flow and a process incorporating DPS technology in the downstream stage

Strength 01：Specialized for low-concentration recovery

DPS is specialized for downstream recovery after the standard recovery process (from 0.1 ppm and above), providing customers with a new way to make effective use of previously untapped resources.
Because it delivers high performance even under low-pressure conditions, it does not require expensive pumps or large, complex equipment. Its excellent liquid permeability also enables large-volume processing at the ton scale.
Its superior adsorption performance makes it possible to quickly adsorb and recover residual precious metals even at extremely low concentrations.
It broadens recovery and recycling options for trace precious metals that previously could not be economically concentrated due to processing time, transportation costs, or capital expenditure.

Figure 3: Example of palladium-containing wastewater with a total volume 500 tons

Strength 02：Compact system design

The compact equipment design maximizes installation flexibility.

  • 01Can be added to an existing production line
  • 02Simply installed downstream of an existing recovery unit
  • 03Compact design that requires only a small footprint
Example unit size: 1,200 mm × 600 mm × 800 mm
Figure 4: Equipment image

Strength 03：Global transactions enabled by non-waste, non-hazardous handling

Thanks to the highly selective adsorption of DPS technology, adsorbed and recovered precious metals can be transported and classified as non-waste and non-hazardous materials.
Leveraging this capability, we can also support recovery operations in overseas regions where no smelting facilities are available.

Figure 5: Image of transporting precious metals as non-waste, non-hazardous materials

Strength 04： Minimized initial investment through a subscription model

To minimize customers’ initial investment, we offer a subscription model in which DPS cartridges are lent to customers, precious metal recovery is carried out jointly, and the value of the recovered metal is shared.

Figure 6: Subscription model

Strength 05：Resource recovery from difficult-to-recover processes

Taking advantage of the characteristics of DPS technology, we are also working on recovery and resource recycling from wastewater containing large amounts of aggregates and contaminants.

Photo of a demonstration unit recovering metals from tin-palladium process wastewater
Target liquid showing contamination caused by aggregated-solids and impurities

Case Study

Recovery from wastewater in a chemical product manufacturing process

Palladium that escapes recovery in large-scale conventional systems due to limited adsorption surface area can be easily and rapidly adsorbed and recovered by installing DPS cartridges downstream.

Recovery results

Figure 7: Image of precious metal recovery from chemical product manufacturing wastewater

Recovery from plating process wastewater

Recovery was carried out from palladium-containing plating rinse water. Palladium recovery was also performed from rinse tank wastewater containing aggregates, which is generally considered difficult to recover from.

Recovery results

Figure 8: Image of precious metal recovery from plating process wastewater