The Regenx Process
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Regenx provides an innovative market leading solution to rising Platinum Group Metals( PGM) demand by focusing on efficient recycling. We process feedstock, that has been prepared as a fine powder into a “Black Powder” concentrate that is upgraded to pure metal for sale in the commodities market or to the original suppliers.
As mineable deposits of PGM are very rare in the Earth’s crust and the activity of mining is a capital, energy, and labour intense industry increased recycling is the only sustainable method to meet the increasing demand. In 2023 only 35% of the annual demand was filled by recycling, while over 27 million auto catalysts are scrapped each year.
The Regenx proprietary process is hydrometallurgical in nature. In simple terms it begins with the purchase of feedstock from suppliers that is initially processed into a fine powder by Davis Recycling, a partner in the operation. This powder is mixed with the Regenx chemistry to create a precious metal bearing solution (PLS) then the precious metals are recovered from the solution utilizing a precipitation process. At the end of the process a “Black Powder” concentrate is created that is upgraded by third party refiners to a 99.9% pure metal that is sold in the commodities market or to predetermined customers.
The simplicity in the description belies the complex chemical and mechanical issues that were needed to be solved before a commercial scale plant could operate efficiently and economically. Regenx has solved these problems, and the Companies first module is now operational at its facility in Eastern Tennessee. Module One is designed to process 5,000lbs of feedstock per day with future expansion planned.
The Regenx technology has been specifically designed to effectively process SiC based catalytic converters.
Traditionally the recycling of used catalytic converters has been dominated by pyrometallic processing. During pyrometallic processing, a feedstock, is smelted, or melted, in a blast furnace in order to fuse the desired metals into an impure molten bullion.
This process uses differences between melting points, densities, and/or miscibility of the feedstock components to achieve the separation of elements. This pyrometallic processing is generally done by larger precious metal refiners. SiC based converters pose operational issues for some pyrometallic refiners. There are two separate processes performed by what is generally referred to as a refinery, smelting (pyrometallic processing) and upgrading. After the smelting there are still impurities in the concentrate created that are eliminated during the upgrading process, which creates a 99.9% pure product.
Some refineries specialize in the upgrading process and do not have a smelting operation in their facility. The refining industry for precious metals is further separated into primary and secondary refineries.
Primary refineries, which process raw ores directly extracted from the Earth, while secondary refineries focus on refining precious metals from already existing materials, including electronic waste, catalytic converters, jewelry scrap, industrial by-products, other source of metal containing waste.
Secondary refineries play a crucial role in the recycling sector. Regenx is classified as a secondary refiner by the industry and produces a concentrate similar to a smelter that also requires final upgrading. Regenx offers the industry a cleantech option that is specifically designed to process materials that the traditional recycling streams have wanted to avoid. This allows for product that currently is excluded from being recycled to be diverted from waste streams.
While a pyrometallurgy smelter emits approximately 1,500 Kg of CO2 for every tonne of feedstock they process, the Regenx cleantech has a minimal carbon footprint. The Regenx is a key cog in the Circular Economy of PGM. Its environmental footprint is substantially reduced as it creates 95% less CO2 emissions and uses 99% less water than mining and offers a product that meets many manufacturers desire for an eco-friendly closed loop production cycle. Regenx is positioned to play a substantial role as an alternative recycling option in meeting the increased demand for recycled PGM.
Regenx offers the industry a cleantech option that is specifically designed to process materials that the traditional recycling streams have wanted to avoid. This allows for product that currently is excluded from being recycled to be diverted from waste streams. While a pyrometallurgy smelter emits approximately 1,500 Kg of CO2 for every tonne of feedstock they process, the Regenx cleantech has a minimal carbon footprint. The Regenx is a key cog in the Circular Economy of PGM. Its environmental footprint is substantially reduced as it creates 95% less CO2 emissions and uses 99% less water than mining and offers a product that meets many manufacturers desire for an eco-friendly closed loop production cycle. Regenx is positioned to play a substantial role as an alternative recycling option in meeting the increased demand for recycled PGM.