In recent years, the production and refining of platinum group metals (i.e. PGM's) has become increasingly important. The variety of processes used in the recovery and refining of platinum group metals are classified into two major process categories. These process categories are based on the differences in the raw material sources: one, on the recovery and refining of precious metals from the concentrates obtained from mined platinum bearing copper and nickel sulfide ores, and the other from secondary raw material sources such as recycled industrial products. Examples of the latter include spent catalysts, electronic scrap, spent electrolytes, and jewelry scrap. This paper focuses on the primary production and refining of platinum group metals. However, the basic principles utilized are analogous for the recovery and refining of secondary and recycled PGM's.
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