Reducing Waste through Precious Metal Recycling

Let’s dive right into the facts: recycling precious metal reduces waste. Through the process of recycling, precious metals are extracted from end-of-life products and reused in new applications, eliminating the need for additional mining. This helps reduce waste that can end up in landfills and cuts back on the environmental impact of traditional mining practices. By choosing to recycle your precious metals, you are not only conserving resources but also helping in the reduction of waste, making a positive contribution to our planet’s sustainability.

The Environmental Toll of Mining

Using recycled precious metals helps preserve natural resources that may be impacted by traditional mining processes. The mining process can lead to deforestation, water pollution, and habitat destruction. By recycling precious metals, you can reduce the need for extensive mining operations, which helps reduce environmental damage and preserve ecosystems.

The Benefits of Choosing a Top Precious Metal Refinery

When choosing a top precious metal refinery, businesses and individuals can benefit from a range of advantages beyond just promoting sustainability. Refineries like Manhattan Gold & Silver have advanced technology and processes in place to maximize the recovery of precious metals from your recycled materials. This means that sellers get a higher yield of valuable metals, increasing their return on investment.

Additionally, our team is known for their expertise and reliable services. They can provide accurate assessments of precious metal content in scrap materials, ensuring that you are compensated fairly when you choose to sell your precious metals.

Recycling precious metals not only reduces waste, but also conserves resources and supports sustainability in the industry. By choosing a top precious metal refinery like Manhattan Gold & Silver, you are taking a proactive step towards a cleaner, greener Earth. So why wait? Start today by estimating your payout and make a positive impact on the environment by selling your gold, silver, rhodium, platinum, and palladium. Remember, every small choice we make adds up to a big difference. Happy Earth Day!

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Precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, rhodium, and palladium are turning out to be invaluable allies in our journey toward clean energy. From efficient electricity transmission to emission reduction and hydrogen purification, these metals are at the forefront of innovative technologies, shaping the landscape of renewable energy and as we work toward a more sustainable future.

Gold: The High-Tech Conductor

While known for its aesthetics and monetary value, is perhaps lesser known that gold has a pivotal role in the realm of clean energy, specifically in the electronics of renewable energy systems. Its impressive conductivity makes it ideal for efficient energy transmission, particularly in photovoltaic solar cells. The thin gold film in these cells facilitates the efficient conversion of sunlight into electricity, an innovation that’s helping to power our increasingly green world. As our dependency on renewable energy sources grows, gold’s importance in these systems is poised to rise. Researchers are also exploring its potential in other cutting-edge areas, like quantum computing, which could revolutionize the way we process and store renewable energy data.

Silver: The Solar Energy Stalwart

Silver currently has the largest presence and use cases in the solar industry, thanks to its superior electrical and thermal conductivity. It forms the backbone of photovoltaic solar cells, where it is used in the form of a paste that forms the cell’s conductive layers. This silver paste plays a key role in the cell’s ability to capture sunlight and convert it into electricity. Currently, around 10% of the global silver supply is dedicated to the solar industry. The race is now on to find ways to use silver more efficiently or enhance its performance, promising a shining future for this precious metal in clean energy.

Platinum: The Fuel Cell Catalyst

The power of platinum in the clean energy industry lies in its role as a catalyst in fuel cells, especially those powering hydrogen cars. Fuel cells work by facilitating a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, and platinum’s unique properties help speed up this reaction to produce electricity, heat, and water – the only byproduct. While the high cost of platinum presents a challenge, ongoing research is aimed at minimizing the amount needed in these cells. Future applications may extend to large-scale energy systems, like stationary power plants, further expanding platinum’s footprint in clean energy.

Rhodium: The Emission Combatant

Though it’s one of the rarest metals on earth, rhodium has a significant impact on clean energy. Its main role is in automotive catalytic converters, where it helps to reduce harmful emissions by converting them into less harmful substances. As emissions regulations become stricter and hybrid vehicles more common, the demand for rhodium is expected to surge.

In the future, scientists could harness rhodium’s catalytic properties for other applications, such as converting CO2 back into fuel, providing an interesting bridge between fossil fuels and a clean energy future.

Palladium: The Hydrogen Purifier

Palladium may be best known for its role in jewelry, but it’s also making waves in clean energy, primarily through hydrogen purification. This precious metal has the unique ability to absorb a large volume of hydrogen, which can then be easily released, making it an excellent choice for extracting pure hydrogen for use in fuel cells. As the world increasingly turns to hydrogen as a clean energy source, the role of palladium is expected to grow. Additionally, its potential in advanced battery technology could further cement its place in our clean energy future.

What the Future of Clean Energy & Precious Metals Has in Store

As we continue to advance into the clean energy revolution, it’s clear that our path toward sustainability is shining with precious metals. Gold, silver, platinum, rhodium, and palladium have assumed new significance in their unique roles within the clean energy industry. Their contributions range from efficient energy transmission to reducing harmful emissions and advancing hydrogen-based technologies. The future of these metals is not only glistening but also green, promising to play an increasingly central role in our journey towards a sustainable and clean energy-driven world.

While challenges in cost and efficiency persist, the innovative applications of these precious resources underscore their invaluable contribution to a green, sustainable future.

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Where Does Rhodium Come From?

Rhodium is one of the rarest precious metals, and it’s the rarest of the six PGMs (which also include platinum, palladium, osmium, iridium, and ruthenium). Extracting it is a complicated and expensive procedure. The ores are generally mixed with other precious metals, including platinum, gold, silver, and palladium, and there are very few rhodium-bearing minerals. It’s obtained as a byproduct of platinum, nickel, and copper mining. Most rhodium—over 80% of the global supply—is found in South Africa, but it’s also mined to a much lesser extent in Russia, Canada, and Zimbabwe, and in even smaller amounts elsewhere.

Uses for Rhodium

Rhodium is primarily used for making catalytic converters for gasoline-powered vehicles. In fact, this application accounts for a little more than three-quarters of worldwide demand for rhodium. Basically, catalytic converters change the toxic gases in exhaust (especially nitrogen oxides) into gases that are less damaging to the environment and to our health, creating less harmful emissions.

Another 5-7% of rhodium goes to making catalysts for the chemical manufacturing sector.  For example, catalysts containing rhodium help make raw materials used in the production of fertilizers and explosives.

Glass production accounts for about another 3-6% of rhodium use. This precious metal has perfect characteristics for creating the vessels that contain and shape molten glass. It’s also used to produce glass fiber, and liquid crystal displays (LCDs).

Rhodium’s high shine and resistance to scratching and tarnishing also make it useful as a plating for jewelry. In addition, rhodium is sometimes used to make a finish for mirrors, optical instruments, electrical components, high-heat manufacturing and lab equipment, electrodes for aircraft spark plugs, thermocouples, sputtering targets, and more.

Have Rhodium Scrap to Sell?

Rhodium is an extremely valuable precious metal. Turn yours into cash with our transparent assaying process and fast payments based on the current London market price fixings. If you have rhodium (or gold, silver, platinum, or palladium), learn how to sell us your lot now.

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Platinum Supply and Demand in Industry

Platinum has certain physical and chemical characteristics that make it so uniquely useful for manufacturing and industrial purposes. In fact, manufacturing and industrial demand for platinum has increased by an average of 3% to 7% each year for the past couple of decades.

Some of the characteristics that make platinum so beneficial for manufacturing and industrial purposes include:

• Exceptionally high heat tolerance/melting point
• Strong, dense, and durable
• Ductile (can stretch before it breaks)
• Catalytic effects for chemical reactions that are valuable to various processes
• Highly corrosion-resistant
• Holds up in very acidic environments
• Inert, preventing chemical reactions with other substances
• High electrical conductivity
• Well tolerated by the human body and radiopaque (X-rays don’t pass through it), relevant because platinum is used in the production of certain internal medical devices
• Hypoallergenic

At the same time, there isn’t an enormous quantity of platinum to go around. In fact, it’s one of the rarest metals on Earth, and it’s only found in a handful of countries. The global platinum supply comes from mines in South Africa, Russia, Zimbabwe, the US (Montana, specifically), and Canada.

Manufacturing and Industrial Uses for Platinum

Here are some of the manufacturing and industrial uses for platinum that drive its demand. Platinum is used in the production of:

• Jewelry
• Industrial-grade thermocouple wire
• Industrial-strength detergents
• Plastics and polyester
• Propylene from propane
• Petroleum from crude oil
• Specialty silicones
• Catalytic converters for vehicles
• Hydrogen fuel cells and the electric vehicles they power
• Medicines for cancers, blood disorders, and other conditions
• Laser-generating crystals
• Explosives
• Electronic devices that contain circuit boards (computers, tablets, smartphones, servers, televisions, radios, appliances, robotics, and so on)
• Sensors (in items like airbags deployments systems, carbon monoxide detectors, breathalyzers, resistance thermometers, and more)
• Medical, geological, and other laboratory equipment
• Medical devices—especially implantable ones—such as those that measure or regulate cardiac, blood, nerve, and other activity in the body
• Fertilizers for industrial farming

Turn Your Platinum Scrap into Capital

If you have platinum scrap or items, Manhattan Gold & Silver will purchase it from you. We buy from industrial and mining operations, jewelers, pawnbrokers, dental practices, and other business enterprises with platinum to sell. Please note that we do not buy from individuals.

We quickly assay your lot, accurately identifying and weighing the platinum content. Then, we make immediate payment based on the current London market fixing for platinum prices.

Get an idea of what your lot is worth with our easy-to-use online payout estimator tool.

You can either visit our Midtown Manhattan location for assaying on the spot and same-day payment, or ship your platinum to us. Our address is 45 W 47th Street, New York, NY 10036. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

The post A Quick Look at Manufacturing and Industrial Uses for Platinum appeared first on Manhattan Gold & Silver.

Read on to learn 6 fun facts about silver that prove just how important a resource it is.

1.   Silver Is Linguistically Interesting

Silver is undeniably associated with money. The words “silver” and “money” are the same in at least 14 different languages. For example, “argent” means money and silver in French, and in Irish, “airgead” means “money” in modern-day English, but originally meant “silver.”

Another fun fact about silver in the English language is that it is one of the few words with no possible rhyme.

2.   Silver Is An Excellent Conductor

Of all the elements, silver is the best electric conductor. It’s the only metal that can score 100 percent conductivity, with the next closest competitor being copper at 97 percent. This makes silver incredibly important in making solar panels where it can account for 6 percent of the total cost of building each unit of a panel.

Silver is also the most effective thermal conductor of all the metals.

3.   Silver Is The Most Malleable Metal Alongside Gold

Silver is the most ductile (malleable metal) along with gold. For example, an ounce of silver can be formed into a wire that is eight thousand feet long. Its malleability is a critical reason why it is great for creating jewelry and silverware.

4.   Silver Is Incredibly Reflective

Silver is the most reflective metal as it can reflect 95 percent of the visible light spectrum. As a result, many mirrors are coated with silver. Its reflectivity also makes it popular for use in telescopes, solar panels, and microscopes.

5.   Mexico Leads The World In Silver Production

According to Investopedia, the country that produces the most silver in the world is Mexico. In 2019, they produced 6,300 metric tons of silver – an increase of 180 metric tons from the previous year. They haven’t hit their peak yet either, silver production in Mexico is expected to continue growing.

6.   Silver Is One Of The Oldest Known Metals

Silver holds a notable place in the history of the elements as it is one of the first five metals discovered by humans. The other four metals are copper, gold, lead, and iron.

Some silver objects date to before 4000 BC in Greece. Silver artifacts have also been found in the Sumerian city of Kish that date from around 3000 BC.

Silver’s Worth Extends Beyond Its Monetary Value

Though silver may not be the most expensive precious metal, it is still historically significant and has many important uses. As a result, silver scrap can be found in a lot of jewelry and industrial byproducts. If you have silver scrap you’d like to sell, consider selling it to a precious metals refiner like Manhattan Gold and Silver. We can help to quickly assess the value of your metals, so you get a quick and fair payout.

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The Contents of an Olympic Gold Medal

The contents of Olympic medals can vary as the specific composition and design are determined by the host city’s organizing committee. However, minimum standards set would indicate that Olympic gold medals are at least 92.5% silver and are plated with at least 6 grams of gold.

There’s no official statement as to why they aren’t made out of pure gold, but it’s likely because pure gold medals would be much more expensive and impractical. Gold is a soft metal that is very easy to dent or scratch.

Gold medals aren’t the only medals handed out at the Olympics. Second and third place finishers are awarded silver and bronze medals, respectively. At the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, silver medals had a purity of 99.9%, according to Olympic.org. The bronze medal was made of an alloy of 90% copper and 10% zinc.

Awards That Are Made Out of Solid Gold

Although the Olympic gold medal is mostly silver, this doesn’t mean there aren’t any solid gold metals in existence. The Congressional Gold Medal and Nobel Prize medal are both made from solid gold.

The Olympic gold medals that we know and love may not be pure gold, but that doesn’t diminish the achievement they represent.

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Thieves can remove catalytic converters in seconds, leaving you with a car that cannot run properly. We’ll detail how to prevent catalytic converter theft, so you don’t have to take an expensive trip to the mechanic.

Why Do Thieves Want Catalytic Converters?

The inner parts of a catalytic converter are made from a mixture of platinum, rhodium, and palladium. These precious metals are expensive, making your converter an enticing treasure for would-be thieves. Depending on the size of your converter and the current value of the metals inside it, your friendly neighborhood thief can sell it to a scrap yard for $150 to $200.

How Converters Are Stolen

Removing a converter is fairly simple. All a thief needs is a saw to slice through piping on both sides of your converter, then voila. Your converter is pulled off.

The only trouble a thief would have is getting under your vehicle. For cars with low ride heights, a jack is used to make access to the undercarriage easier. However, this is rare as that extra amount of time required to jack a car is risky. If you’re a truck or SUV owner, you must exercise extra caution. The high ground clearance of your vehicle makes it an easier target.

If they’re so easy to steal, how can we prevent catalytic converter theft? Well, there are a couple steps you can take to keep your car intact.

Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Tips

1. Park Smart

Make sure you park in well-lit areas when possible. If you can, also make sure your chosen spot is close to a building entrance or an access road when you park in a public lot. Pedestrians tend to frequent these areas, making it harder for thieves to plan a theft without witnesses.

Another good move is to park you car in your personal garage. This adds an extra layer of defense that will discourage thieves looking for easy pickings.

2. Invest in Security Devices

If you’re willing to invest, you can also attach security devices that will make stealing your converter harder. You can choose to weld the converter to your car frame, which will make removing it more complicated. If you have a car security system, you can also adjust it so vibration sets it off. This means your alarm will activate once a thief starts sawing off your converter.

Video surveillance installed in your garage or around your driveway can also be an effective deterrent.

3. Mark Your Converter

Engrave your vehicle identification number (VIN) on your catalytic converter. It is a 17-character number that is assigned to motor vehicles after manufacturing and can often be found on the dashboard on the driver’s side, or in the driver’s side doorjamb. This can alert scrap dealers that the converter was stolen and make it easier to find the owner.

Play It Safe

As reports of catalytic converter thefts continue to stream in, it does not seem any car will be safe soon. Try to maintain awareness of your vehicle. One bad move is all it can take for thieves to get the jump on your precious converter.

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Three main ways currently exist to hold precious metal investments. We’ll explain what these holding methods are and how they work.

Holding Method #1: Physical Gold and Silver Coins or Bullion

This is the oldest method by far for investing in gold or silver. You simply buy physical gold coins or bars and store them. The advantage to owning and storing physical bullion is it is safest and least complex way to hold precious metals. However, investors who seek to store large amounts of gold or silver at home should think otherwise. Be sure to store sizeable quantities of precious metals offsite professionally and with security.

Diversifying your emergency fund by owning physical precious metals could help in the case you need to flee the country or protect your wealth from rapidly depreciating currency. For example, 5 ounces of gold is worth over $7,500 dollars and could easily fit in your pocket. By buying precious metals such as gold, you have the ability to concentrate your wealth into a physical, valuable and portable asset you can use around the world.

Holding Method #2: Gold and Silver ETFs and Options

 An easier way to invest in gold or silver is to buy one or more exchange traded funds (ETFs). An advantage of this method is that ETFs are incredibly liquid and can be bought or sold within your brokerage account. ETFs allow for easy portfolio rebalancing an inexpensive, smooth buying and selling process.

In the past, investing in ETFs was expensive, but they are now falling in price. Here are the main options:

Gold:

·         iShares Gold Trust (IAU), Expense Ratio: 0.25%

·         SPDR Gold Trust (GLD), Expense Ratio: 0.40%

·         SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM), Expense Ratio: 0.18%

·         Sprott Physical Gold Trust (PHYS), Expense Ratio: 0.46%

 Silver:

·         Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV), Expense Ratio: 0.68%

·         iShares Silver Trust (SLV), Expense Ratio: 0.50%

The trend is for ETFs to become cheaper as they grow more common.

A disadvantage in ETF investment is that they are usually not redeemable for gold and silver. This means you never physically have them in hand, so if catastrophe strikes, you won’t have anything to use. One exception is Sprott funds. Their expense ratio is slightly higher, but they store their metals entirely in physical bullion and can be redeemed for gold and silver.

A possible way to earn income with more liquid ETFs like GLD and SLV is you can sell their options.

Holding Method #3: Mining Companies

You can also choose to invest in gold and silver mining companies. Several ETFs contain a subset of miners. An advantage of investing in a mining company is that it helps circumvent many of the problems with precious metals investing.  While precious metals do not produce cash flows and require money to be managed, mining companies produce cash flows and usually pay dividends.

A major disadvantage of investing in mining companies is that the benefit of cash flow could actually turn against an investor. Mining companies are levered against the price of their respective precious metal. When you invest in a mining company, you’re not really invested in the precious metal they harvest, you’re invested in the performance of the company. The price of a precious metal could plummet and the company may not be able to withstand the decline in price. They’ll start losing money quickly, pile up debt and potentially go bankrupt before prices recover.

On the other hand, if you invest in physical precious metals, you could wait out a downturn in price.

Weighing Your Options

Each of these three holding methods is viable for precious metal investors. In the end, it’s the responsibility of the investor to understand the risk factors of each method before making a decision.

If you are leaning towards investing in physical precious metals, consider buying gold bars from a refinery like Manhattan Gold & Silver. Regardless of the provider you choose, make certain you are buying your precious metals at a reasonable price and purchase secure storage for them.

The post A Guide to Investing in Precious Metals: Part 2 – Precious Metal Holding Methods appeared first on Manhattan Gold & Silver.

Jewelry experts think of palladium as an alternative to gold or platinum. Its uses, however, are far more diverse. The most common industrial use for palladium is in catalytic converters for cars. Catalytic converters contain catalysts that convert toxic substances in engine exhaust into inert or less toxic substances. This, in turn, produces a cleaner exhaust that conforms to EPA standards.

You can see why palladium’s catalytic properties make it so invaluable to the automotive industry. According to a report from the New York Times, more than 80 percent of palladium is used for catalytic converters.

But that’s not the only thing that makes this metal so valuable.

What Is Palladium?

Palladium is a silvery-white metal that is mined in parts of Russia, South Africa, Canada and the United States. Its extraction is actually an offshoot of the production of other metals, like platinum or nickel.

Palladium is one of six elements in the platinum group metals (PGMs), along with platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium and iridium. These PGMs are valued for their catalytic properties, or being able to speed up chemical reactions.

According to U.S. Geological Survey, most PMGs are found in ore deposits formed by the cooling of magma. All six PMGs combined make up only 0.0005 parts per million of Earth’s crust.

Palladium’s Characteristics

We already know about palladium’s excellent catalytic properties. But what are some of the transitional metal’s other characteristics?

It’s bendy. Like gold, palladium is malleable and ductile and can be beaten into a thin leaf.

It’s high-temperature-resistant. Palladium has the lowest melting point of all the PMGs. It melts at 2,831 degrees Fahrenheit. The melting point of gold, by comparison, is 1,948 degrees Fahrenheit.

It’s super absorbent. Palladium can absorb up to 900 times its own volume of hydrogen. Because of this ability, palladium is used to store and filter hydrogen.

Palladium’s Other Applications

While the majority of palladium ends up in cars’ exhaust systems, it is also used in jewelry, electronics and dentistry.

Because of its naturally white color, palladium is often used as an alternative to platinum for making white gold jewelry. It’s also much lighter than platinum, and more malleable, like gold, and won’t cause allergic reactions.

Another application for palladium is in electronics in the production of ceramic capacitors found in laptops and smartphones. Ceramic capacitors consist of layers of palladium inserted between layers of ceramic.

Palladium has been used in the dental industry since the late 1970s. Palladium is tarnish and corrosion resistant, which makes it suitable for dental crown and bridge alloys. Palladium is even used in certain kinds of dental amalgams to increase durability and improve the luster of the restoration work.

The increasing demand for palladium has made it one of the most valuable of the four major precious metals: gold, silver and platinum. That’s because the amount of palladium produced is expected to fall short of demand in 2019–for an eighth year in a row.

Create Your Own Palladium Chart

Our monthly palladium price chart is updated twice daily with prices based on market fixings published by the London Platinum and Palladium Market (LPPM). Use our palladium chart to see current and historical palladium prices or to create your own chart.

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Most silver mines aren’t profitable when silver prices drop below $20—where they have been for some time. As a result, a number of silver companies have had to put their mines in maintenance mode or halt mine expansion altogether. This has caused a decrease in global silver production.

Meanwhile, the Silver Institute reports global silver demand rose 4 percent to 1 billion ounces in 2018–the first time demand has risen year-over-year since 2015. The demand, coupled with a decrease in supply, has caused prices to rise.

When it comes to silver, what is creating the demand? Silver is used in investments, jewelry, and electrical applications, to name a few. Here are some of the top applications for silver:

Silver in Electronics

Silver is highly reliable and durable. In the electrical field, silver is often used in the form of silver paste. Its electrical conductivity makes it an ideal choice for electronics such as:

• Printed circuit boards
• TV screens
• Phones
• Microwave ovens
• Keyboards

Consumer demand for electronics isn’t likely to decrease anytime soon.

Silver in Energy

Because it has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of all metals, silver is vital for the manufacturing of solar panels.

In solar cells, silver powder gets turned into a paste that contains silver particles, which is then loaded onto a silicon wafer. When light strikes the silicon, electrons are set into motion, initiating a flow of electricity for either immediate use or to be stored in batteries.

Many experts estimate that solar power could become the world’s largest source of electricity by 2050, which could have an impact on the global price of silver.

Silver in Medicine

Silver has been used as an antimicrobial agent by civilizations for thousands of years. And did you know ship captains used to toss silver coins into storage barrels to keep drinking water fresh?

In hospitals today, silver is used in bandages to treat burn victims and destroy pathogenic microbes on catheters. Coating medical equipment with small amounts of silver has also shown to prevent the spread of pathogens.

Its antibiotic property is what has given silver a vital role in medicine. The presence of antibiotic-resistant superbugs has only increased the demand for silver.

Silver in Silverware and Jewelry

Silver cutlery and rings date back to the 14th Century. Although it can tarnish, silver is less costly than gold, making it a standard choice. It also resists oxidation and corrosion.

Because it’s pliable, silver is also easy to hammer and mold into different forms and shapes. The Silver Institute predicts silver jewelry will remain the most popular alternative to gold in the United States, with demand expected to grow in 2019.

Other Silver Uses

Other uses for silver include:

• Awards and medals
• Photography
• Mirrors and glass
• Chemical production
• Coins and investments

Thinking of investing in silver? Viewing the silver price history can help you to better understand the market surrounding this precious metal. Our customizable silver price charts provides records of silver price history based on fixings published by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA).

The post What’s Behind the Demand for Silver? appeared first on Manhattan Gold & Silver.