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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Being in high global demand, platinum makes for a valuable asset to invest in or sell. Its rarity combined with practical uses contributes to its prestigious status. Investing in platinum and other precious metals can be an excellent hedge against inflation and a way to diversify an investment portfolio.

You may be interested in learning how to find and recycle any spare platinum. Luckily, there’s plenty of it to go around. In this post, we’ll cover some of the best places that can prove useful for finding platinum scrap.

#1: Jewelry Factories & Workshops

Jewelry factories and workshops are rich grounds for platinum scrap. As platinum is malleable and durable, it’s a preferred metal for high-quality jewelry. In the process of creating or repairing jewelry, scraps are left behind in various forms such as floor dust, bench sweepings, and squiggles. These seemingly insignificant leftovers can accumulate to a valuable quantity.

We advise our clients not to discard any dust or powder in their workshops, as it may be more valuable than you think. Finding platinum in broken jewelry is easier yet. Silver-looking jewelry marked with a “pt” indicates with certainty that it’s made from platinum.

#2: Lab Equipment

In scientific laboratories, platinum’s unparalleled properties make it an ideal material for equipment like crucibles, tweezers, forceps, and triangular metal stands. Its heat resistance and inert nature allow it to remain stable even in aggressive chemical environments.

Though over time, platinum lab equipment may lose its original shine, become discolored, or even deformed, it’s essential to remember that the platinum content remains unchanged. Even in these states, it can be refined and recycled, retaining its inherent value. Old lab tools and instruments are not merely junk but potentially valuable platinum resources.

#3: Thermocouple Wires

Thermocouples, although not widely known, are vital components in various industrial applications. These thin wires, often made of platinum, are used to monitor or remotely measure temperatures in manufacturing processes, including everything from stoves to air conditioning systems.

The use of platinum in thermocouples is due to its high melting point and stability at extreme temperatures. If you come across wires marked with “pt,” it’s likely they contain platinum. Knowing where these thermocouples are used and how to identify them could lead you to a steady source of platinum scrap.

#4: Catalytic Converters

Catalytic converters are intriguing for scrap collectors due to their platinum content, combined with rhodium and palladium. These devices reduce harmful emissions in automobiles, and their theft has become a common crime.

For those involved in auto repairs or having access to junk cars, catalytic converters can be a legitimate source of income. With values up to $200 each, this can turn into a lucrative side business. However, the emphasis must always be on legally acquiring these converters, as the unlawful possession of such devices carries severe legal penalties.

#5: Dental Laboratories and Clinics

Dental laboratories and clinics are surprisingly rich sources of palladium scrap. Palladium is often used in dental crowns, bridges, and other prosthetics due to its biocompatibility and resistance to corrosion. If you can establish a connection with dental professionals who are willing to part with old dental appliances or tools, you may discover a consistent supply of platinum.

Retired dentists or dental clinics going through renovations might also dispose of old equipment containing platinum. Collaboration with these sources, in line with proper legal channels, can lead to a mutually beneficial arrangement, converting unwanted dental materials into valuable platinum scrap.

#6: Aerospace and Aviation Industries

The aerospace and aviation industries are another unexpected but promising source of platinum. Due to its heat resistance and strength, platinum is used in aircraft engine components and other critical aerospace applications. Maintenance and refurbishment of aircraft may lead to the replacement of these platinum-containing parts.

#7: Industrial Processing Plants

Industrial processing plants, especially those involved in chemical, petroleum, or food processing, may use platinum in various applications like catalysts, coatings, and specialized machinery. These plants undergo regular maintenance, upgrades, and replacements, leading to potential platinum scrap.

Engaging with industrial processing facilities may uncover opportunities to collect or purchase platinum-containing equipment, machinery, or consumables. Familiarity with the particular industry’s processes and regulations is crucial for accessing these materials, but the potential for platinum recovery is substantial.

Reeling In the Platinum

Although it is a precious metal, it is not impossible to find platinum if you know where to look. Take note of the resources you have access to and see if you can find a good source of platinum.

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Let’s look at the difference between troy and avoirdupois ounces, pennyweights, and carats when it comes to measuring metals.

Troy and Avoirdupois Ounces as Metal Measurements

The troy ounce originated as a system for measuring bronze currency in the Roman empire. One unit equaled a pound, and the Romans assigned 12 “unicas” (or ounces) to each pound.

Later uses of this system increased the pound to include 16 ounces, which came to be identified as an avoirdupois ounce, as “avoir de pois” meant “goods sold by weight” in Middle English.

The troy ounce is now an imperial unit of measure that is used only for precious metal measurements. One troy ounce equals 31.1034768 grams, while a single avoirdupois ounce is 28.349523125 grams, making the troy ounce heavier by almost 10 percent.

Pennyweight as a Precious Metal Measurement

Another common unit for measuring precious metals is the pennyweight, which began as a part if the troy weight system in England during the 15^th century.

At that time, English pennies were precisely 1/20^th of a troy ounce, which is why 20 pennyweights equal a single troy ounce, or 31.1 grams.

To help with calculating a price for your precious metals, you might want to use our pennyweight calculator and conversion chart. These tools will allow you to determine the value of your metals.

Grain as a Precious Metal Measurement

Grains are the smallest unit of precious metal measurement, and it’s not often used in the sale of gold, silver, platinum, or other metals, which tend to be valued in grams or troy ounces.

However, gold bullion companies have recently begun to take notice of the market for precious metal grain amounts. This is especially true when it comes to valuing pure gold bars, where a one grain gold bar weighs in at about .065 grams.

Carat as a Precious Metal Measurement

While the weight of gold is measured in troy ounces, its purity is calculated and quantified in karats (kt). In North America, the spelling is “karat,” but it is referred to as “carat” elsewhere in the world. This can be easily confused with another jeweler’s term – which is a unit of mass used to measure the weight of gemstones – also spelled as “carat,” as in “a two-carat diamond.”

Karats are determined by dividing the mass of the metal by the amount of gold within the metal and multiplying by 24. Twenty-four karats is equal to pure gold, 18kt is equal to 75%, 12kt is 50%, and so on.

Most countries have a legal karatage minimum for a metal to be sold as gold. In the United States, the accepted gold standard is 10 karats and above. In many parts of Europe, there’s a lower minimum gold standard of 8 to 9 karats.

Precious Metal Conversions

Most of the measurement units we’ve discussed can be converted into or out of one another. Take a look at the below precious metal conversions chart to learn more about how to find the value of your jewelry, coins, or bullion bars.

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So, to help you better understand the purposes of each, here’s a quick look at the difference between a refinery and a mint.

Basic Information About Refineries

The primary purpose of refineries is to, well, refine precious metals. Basically, they take scrap, jewelry, and other items containing commercially valuable metals like gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and rhodium; separate the components; melt and purify the precious metals; and then recast them into high-purity bars. This allows the metal to return to the market in a more practical form.

Refineries recast existing precious metal bars into smaller or larger ones, too. Also, they offer assaying services, meaning they test the precious metal content of an object, weigh it, and value it. Some also manufacture and sell bullion or precious metal components to be used in jewelry and other goods. And then there are refineries that offer precious metal storage or other related services, and that trade precious metals on the global market.

One important thing to point out regarding the difference between a refinery and a mint is that refineries are usually privately owned companies. Mints, on the other hand, are typically owned by governments. But more on that below. A refinery’s customers include organizations like mining companies, banks, jewelry businesses, metal recycling companies, and dental practices.

Manhattan Gold & Silver is a refinery, so feel free to explore our website to get a better idea of what we do and who we do it for.

Basic Information About Mints

The main function of a mint is to produce coinage. These include coins circulated as national currency as well as bullion coins used for investing and collecting purposes.

As mentioned above, mints are usually owned by national governments because of their role in producing currency. A few examples include the United States Mint, the Royal Canadian Mint, and the Perth Mint in Australia.

And again, some mints operate their own refinery. The Royal Canadian Mint and Perth Mint both do so. This allows them to more efficiently and cost-effectively produce their own supply of bullion to use in minting coins. It also means they can produce investment-grade bullion bars to sell and trade as an additional source of revenue.

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What Is Ore?

Ore is natural rock or sediment that contains one or more valuable minerals and metals, including some precious metals – like gold and silver – that we do purchase.

Typically, ore is mined, smelted, and refined. Smelting is the process of extracting metals from ore via heating or melting. Refining is a process of purifying metals, and that’s what we do, so it’s understandable that people might assume we accept ore.

Why Manhattan Gold & Silver Does Not Buy Ore

Usually, any given ore specimen contains a mix of valuable minerals and metals along with rock and minerals that have no commercial value. The economically worthless parts that surround the desirable minerals and metals are called gangue.

We are not equipped to separate the gangue and the valuable metals that make up ore. This involves different processes than those we use here at our facility for refining certain precious metals.

What Manhattan Gold & Silver Does Buy

We purchase and refine certain already-extracted precious metals, including:

• Gold
• Silver
• Platinum
• Palladium
• Rhodium

These may be contained in items like thermocouple wire, electrodes, other electronic equipment, sputtering targets, high-heat industrial and lab tools, and more. They may also be present in alloys. Manhattan Gold & Silver does purchase the above-named metals in these forms.

Also, please note that we only buy directly from business enterprises, such as dental practices, pawnbrokers, jewelers, manufacturers, and mining companies. We do not accept metals from individuals.

The post Manhattan Gold & Silver Does Not Buy Ore or Refine It appeared first on Manhattan Gold & Silver.

There’s no better way to sell platinum in Midtown NY if you’d like to immediately turn your scrap into capital with same-day payments. Please feel free to contact us with any questions about selling your platinum scrap.

Examples of Platinum Scrap and Items We Buy

You may have valuable platinum in many forms. Whichever you’re trying to sell, there’s a good chance we’ll buy it from you. Some typical forms of platinum we purchase include:

• Platinum jewelry (we can also remove any gemstones for you)
• Polishing material & filing dust
• Platinum medical products
• Platinum wire, such as industrial thermocouple wire
• Platinum sputtering targets
• Platinum fuel cells
• Platinum-rhodium alloy
• Platinum bullion, such as American Platinum Eagles, Canadian Platinum Maple Leaves, and Australian Platinum Koalas

Who Do We Buy Platinum From?

We only purchase platinum from businesses. If you’re an industrial or mining organization, jeweler, pawnbroker, dental practice, or other enterprise in possession of platinum scrap or items, we’re happy to purchase and refine your lot.

Please note that Manhattan Gold & Silver does not purchase platinum from individuals.

Where to Sell Platinum in Midtown NY

If you want to drop off and sell platinum in Midtown NY in person, we’ll weigh, assay, and melt your lot right in front of you. We make same-day payments according to the current London market fixing for platinum prices.

Come in to the Manhattan Gold & Silver location at 45 W 47th Street, New York, NY 10036. You may also ship your lot to us if that’s more convenient. Whether you’re stopping by or sending your platinum to us, you can get an idea of what we’ll pay for your lot using our payout estimator tool.

If you have any questions, or would like to make arrangements to sell your platinum scrap or items, get in touch with us today by phone or using our online contact form.

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Where Is Thermocouple Wire Found?

Thermocouple wire made with heat-resistant precious metals is often found in industrial and scientific settings. It’s commonly used to measure temperature in diesel engines, gas turbine exhaust, automated welding equipment, kilns, and a variety of other industrial machines and processes. These include most production line or testing machines that heat or cool materials, that monitor temperature with a remote gauge, and that monitor radiation levels.

Also, thermocouple wire made with base metals is found in thermostats, attached to flame sensors in safety mechanisms for gas-powered devices, in power cutoff switches, and in a variety of residential and commercial appliances. These include water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners (central and window units), fire safety and alert systems, ovens, electric space heaters, coffee makers, and others.

When Is Thermocouple Wire Valuable?

Thermocouple wire is made of at least two metals. Depending on how the wire was used, it could contain platinum, rhodium, palladium, or gold. And that’s why you can get paid for recycling thermocouple wire.

Rare metals are used in thermocouple wires when higher temperatures are involved. So, the wiring used for something like a coffee maker, stove, or air conditioning unit is made using less valuable base metals. However, thermocouple wire for industrial purposes is likely to contain valuable metals like platinum.

Base metal thermocouple wires are typically made with metals like nickel, copper, and aluminum. These can be used when measuring temperatures up to about 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. Rare metal thermocouple wires are used to measure temperatures up to about 3600 degrees F, and they almost always contain some platinum.

Interested in Recycling Thermocouple Wire?

If you’re interested in recycling thermocouple wire that was used in an industrial setting, contact us today. We can help you determine what type of thermocouple wire you have and its value. We offer fast, fair payouts for thermocouple wire containing platinum, gold, palladium, or rhodium.

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Why Are Alloys Created?

Alloys are produced for various reasons. For example, some are created to enhance the strength or ductility of a material. This is the case with gold, which is formed by alloying pure gold with other metals to make it harder and easier to work with.  Sometimes, alloys may also be created to reduce the cost of an item.

Common Alloys

Many different types of alloys are used in the metalworking industry. In fact, it’s far less likely for non-alloy or “pure metals” to be used. A few examples of alloys you’ll commonly see in use include:

• Cast iron: An alloy of iron and carbon
• Steel: Another alloy of iron and carbon
• Aluminum: Often alloyed with other elements.
• Austenitic Stainless Steels: A synthesis of iron, chromium, nickel, and other metals or nonmetals.
• Bronze: An alloy of copper and tin. Often alloyed with elements like aluminum.

What Are Common Alloying Elements?

Here are a few of the most common alloying elements and the purposes they serve:

• Nickel: A metal often added to materials to increase their toughness. Austenitic stainless steels have high additions of nickel, which also acts as an austenite-promoter.
• Copper: A metal used to make materials like aluminum precipitation-hardenable. In steel, copper can help improve corrosion resistance, but it can also reduce aluminum’s corrosion resistance.
• Chromium: Chromium is often added to carbon steel. At levels greater than 11%, this creates stainless steel. At this percentage and greater, the corrosion resistance of steel greatly increases, and the oxidation of iron is prevented.
• Molybdenum: Like chromium, molybdenum can increase the toughness, tensile strength and hardness of steel.
• Lead: Lead is often used to improve machinability.
• Manganese: A metal commonly alloyed to improve strength. Manganese alone is an alloying element that is not affected much by heat, which makes it great for high-temperature applications.

Got Alloyed Precious Metals? Trade Them With Us

If you have alloyed precious metals but aren’t sure how much they’re worth, be sure to consider exchanging them with us. We can determine the precious metals value from your alloy and provide a quick, fair payout.

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Here are a couple of places you can find it:

Where To Find Rhodium Scrap

We hope this infographic helped you think of a couple places you might have rhodium scrap. If you do find any, be sure to sell it to a precious metals refiner like Manhattan Gold & Silver. We offer some of the quickest and fairest payments in the industry with a thorough assay process.

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Sputtering targets are often overlooked as a source of precious metal scrap. Let’s take a look at why you should seek to recycle any sputtering target scrap you own.

Why Sputtering Targets Are An Excellent Source Of Precious Metal Scrap

Sputter deposition is often involved in the production of semiconductors and computer chips. As such, most sputtering target materials are metallic alloys or elements, although some ceramic targets are available that create hardened thin coatings for some tools.

Once a sputtering target has been used, most will assume it is now useless. However, there is usually some valuable metal material left that should be recycled. In many cases, the metal could even turn out to be an incredibly rare precious metal like rhodium that can often be recycled as well.

Here’s a list of all the sputtering targets that are worth recycling:

1. Aluminum Targets

Aluminum sputtering is often used for semiconductor applications. Though it is not the most valuable metal, it is still in demand due to its versatility. You can find recycled aluminum in almost any modern vehicle or airplane, and it is used in many household items. Aluminum is also great for heat resistance, which makes it the perfect metal for containers.

2. Copper Targets

Copper is often used for electrodes and other applications where electrical conductivity is crucial. It’s not rare, but it is used in many applications like plumbing, wiring and windshield films.

3. Tin Targets

Tin can be applied to many materials to improve their properties. It is used in sputtering to improve corrosion resistance.

4. Zinc Targets

Zinc targets are also used for their corrosion resistance. When it is sputtered onto another metal, it can be a corrosion barrier, which is why it’s typically used to produce cathodes. Zinc can also be found in batteries, propellants and paints.

5. Platinum, Silver, and Gold

Precious metals like gold, silver and platinum are sometimes used in sputtering applications. They provide a combination of chemical inertness and electrical conductivity, which makes them excellent for instrument and electrode production. They are also worth recycling for their financial value alone.

Recycle Your Sputtering Targets At A Precious Metals Refiner

If you have any sputtering targets you’d like to recycle, be sure to sell them to a precious metals refiner like Manhattan Gold & Silver. We can quickly separate the metals in your sputtering target to extract precious metals like gold and deliver a quick, fair payout.

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