Comprehensive review on recovery of platinum group metals from spent automotive catalysts by metal capture technology: Present progress and outlook

Recovering of platinum group metals from spent automotive catalysts can significantly alleviate the global platinum group metals shortage crisis and is conducive to environmental protection. At present, three principal technologies are employed for the recovery of PGMs from spent automotive catalysts: metal capture technology (pyrometallurgy), liquid leaching technology (hydrometallurgy), and microbial extraction technology (biometallurgy). This review comprehensively summarises the advancements in research on various metal capture technologies, highlighting the associated technical challenges. Emphasising the significance of utilising solid waste containing captured metals as raw materials and effectively treating the slag post-capture for achieving high value-added capture technology, the paper also delves into capture material selection, slag processing, and micro-processes. Lastly, it offers insights into potential future research directions for metal capture technology. [Display omitted] •Progress in the recovery of PGMs from spent automotive catalysts has been reviewed.•The advantages and disadvantages of different recovery technologies are analysed in detail.•Methods to improve the metal capture technology are discussed.•Challenges and prospects for metal capture technology are proposed.