Lord of the Recycled Rings
CharleneXu
Yadao
2017-01-03 14:26:36
A unique pair of platinum rings with a retail value of around £1,200, have now been made entirely from the precious metal recovered from obsolete pharmaceuticals. The recycled jewellery, each weighing around 4.5g, are 100% pure platinum and were ‘mined’ by global resource management company, Veolia. Working in partnership with leading pharmaceutical company, Accord Healthcare, this high-quality recovered platinum is being reprocessed into new drugs.
A large amount of today’s leading specialist medications contain traces of precious metals. In common with all pharmaceutical products, medications have a limited shelf-life and, after this expires, must be sent for secure destruction. Using the latest recycling innovations, scientists at Veolia’s hazardous waste facility in Ellesmere Port can now remove the precious metals by applying a two-step recovery process to recover the precious metal for re-use.
A large amount of today’s leading specialist medications contain traces of precious metals. In common with all pharmaceutical products, medications have a limited shelf-life and, after this expires, must be sent for secure destruction. Using the latest recycling innovations, scientists at Veolia’s hazardous waste facility in Ellesmere Port can now remove the precious metals by applying a two-step recovery process to recover the precious metal for re-use.
In modern day society precious metals are at the heart of the technology and gadgets that we take for granted. In their natural form the ores that produce these metals are running out. To meet this demand Veolia is working on a number of other projects to recover platinum, palladium and rhodium from different difficult to treat waste streams.
Kevin Hurst, Chief Operating Officer – Industrial Customers, Veolia UK said: “This work really shows that we need to look at all waste materials to see what hidden value we can extract. This innovative collection of tiny amounts of platinum has now enabled us to create something that is unique. As mining has a significant impact on the environment, recovery techniques that maximise reuse make sound economic-sense in the highly volatile metals market. It also lowers emissions as each gram of recovered platinum saves 14kg of CO2 compared to extracting ore.”
Kevin Hurst, Chief Operating Officer – Industrial Customers, Veolia UK said: “This work really shows that we need to look at all waste materials to see what hidden value we can extract. This innovative collection of tiny amounts of platinum has now enabled us to create something that is unique. As mining has a significant impact on the environment, recovery techniques that maximise reuse make sound economic-sense in the highly volatile metals market. It also lowers emissions as each gram of recovered platinum saves 14kg of CO2 compared to extracting ore.”