Spent catalysts from refining, petrochemical and chemical operations carry recoverable molybdenum, vanadium, nickel, cobalt and platinum-group metals. Where the material goes — regeneration, metal reclamation or disposal — decides whether the stream is a cost or revenue.
Get Matched With ProcessorsHow spent catalyst recycling works: regeneration, rejuvenation and metal reclamation routes for refinery, petrochemical and chemical catalysts, with the EWC 16 08 codes each stream takes and the industries that accept them.
Read the guideRecovering platinum, palladium, rhodium and other precious metals from spent catalysts: which streams are coded EWC 16 08 01, how refining charges work, and how to get paid on assayed metal content rather than a flat disposal rate.
Read the guideManaging spent catalysts from unloading to consignment: hazard classification under EWC 16 08, self-heating and pyrophoric risks, storage and transport requirements, and choosing between regeneration, reclamation and disposal.
Read the guideThe European Waste Catalogue codes spent catalysts by metal content in chapter 16 08. The code determines consignment paperwork, transport requirements and which facilities may accept the stream.
Source: EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC · Full lookup: EWC code for spent catalysts
Refinery hydroprocessing catalysts
Molybdenum, cobalt, nickel, vanadium
Ni-Mo and Co-Mo hydrotreating and hydrocracking grades; typically hazardous 16 08 02* and self-heating after unloading.
Spent Catalyst Management & DisposalReforming catalysts
Platinum, rhenium
High-value PGM stream under 16 08 01, settled on assayed metal content.
Precious Metal Recovery from Spent CatalystsAutomotive catalytic converters
Platinum, palladium, rhodium
Ceramic monolith PGM stream; segregation by grade preserves assay value.
Precious Metal Recovery from Spent CatalystsFCC equilibrium catalyst
Rare earths; vanadium and nickel as contaminants
High-volume zeolite stream; routes include reuse as e-cat, cement raw material, or disposal.
Spent Catalyst RecyclingChemical process catalysts
Nickel, copper, zinc, silver, palladium
Hydrogenation, oxidation and synthesis catalysts across chemical manufacturing.
Spent Catalyst RecyclingSpent catalysts
With a lab analysis, the engine checks the stream against each receiving route's published limits and returns what is supported, what is refused, and why. Without one yet, we tell you which routes it can evaluate and what analysis that needs.
See what the output looks like: a worked dossier.
How spent catalysts fit into a wider valorisation strategy.