Auto Recycling World FEB 2022 / by Nicolas Saenz / Read original article
Every year, hundreds of millions of spark plugs are replaced. Most of these spark plugs end up in landfills or as scrap steel.
The vast majority of these spark plugs also contain precious metals such as platinum and iridium. These precious metals are regarded as scarce and strategic metals for the United States. We all know that precious metals have monetary value, so is it possible that there is compensation for recycling these spark plugs? Edmund Schwenk, Metallurgist/CEO of PGM Recovery Systems, Inc., tells us more.
Used Spark Plugs Have Value
As previously stated, most of these spark plugs have platinum or iridium on their tips. These precious metals make up a small percentage of the overall spark plug, but that should not deter you from having that material processed. The United States considers precious metals to be strategic because we obtain them through mining. Mining, as we all know, is extremely polluting and expensive. The majority of mines are located in other countries where labor restrictions do not exist, and unethical behavior is common.
Furthermore, relying on other nations to gather strategic metals used in many of our industrial needs causes concern because one nation may have power over another.
Why Platinum and Iridium Need to Be Recycled
Platinum and iridium are considered scarce due to the limited supply that can be mined at any given time. Demand for these precious metals rises as industrial standards change due to new technology, even when supply remains limited, resulting in higher prices for the manufacturers and consumers. This phenomenon can be seen in the commitment to switch to electric vehicles. Fuel cells, which are primarily made of platinum, are required for electric vehicles. As the demand for electric vehicles grows, the current demand for platinum will continue to exceed the current supply, driving up the price of your electric vehicle. Many exceptional people are becoming more aware of the problem and are already working to solve it. For example, Princeton University is researching a platinum-free alternative for fuel cells. The researchers reported in a paper published in the journal Nature Communications on April 4 that a chemical compound based on hafnium worked about 60% and platinum-related materials at a fraction of the cost.
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