How to Remove Platinum From a Catalytic Converter

Get the platinum out of a catalytic converter.

The process of removing the platinum contained within a vehicle's catalytic converter is a fairly straightforward process. With a little time and a few basic tools, you can easily remove the platinum contained within a catalytic converter. This article outlines the basic step-by-step process to follow to extract platinum from a catalytic converter.

Things You'll Need

• Catalytic converter
• Socket wrench
• Clean work area
• Ball-peen hammer

Instructions

1. Remove the catalytic converter. Most newer vehicles, vehicles whose catalytic converters contain platinum pellets, have bolt-on catalytic converters. To remove the catalytic converter, a single socket wrench is needed to loosen and remove the bolts holding the catalytic converter to the exhaust. After the bolts are removed, the catalytic converter is simply pulled by hand and removed.

2. Lay a clean towel or cloth on the ground. After removing the catalytic converter from the vehicle, you need to have a clean location with which to catch the platinum-coated pellets as you retrieve them from inside the catalytic converter. A clean towel or cloth, preferably solid white, will make it easier for you to not only keep the platinum-coated pieces clean and unsoiled, but it will enable you to clearly see each piece.

3. Turn the catalytic converter on its end. A catalytic converter has two openings (one on each end). Turn the catalytic converter so that one open end is facing directly up toward the ceiling and the other open end is pointed toward the ground.

4. Start tapping on the converter. Holding the catalytic converter with one hand, use your other hand to start moderately tapping on the top open end of the converter with a ball-peen hammer. This is done while you hold the catalytic converter a few inches off the ground, which allows the platinum-coated pellets to fall out.

5. Apply more tapping pressure as needed. Depending on how solidly the catalytic converter is packed, you might have to tap with extra force to dislodge the inner pellets.

6. After you have extracted what seems like the last of the platinum-coated pellets from inside the converter, you can look directly inside one of the open ends of the converter to see if there are any leftover pellets inside. If so, you can resume tapping of the converter, applying increased force as necessary, until the last of the pellets falls out.

7. After extracting all of the platinum-coated pellets from inside the converter, you decide what you want to do with them. Although each catalytic converter contains only a small amount of platinum, which is a precious metal, most auto recycling businesses and even standard recycling centers pay top dollar for catalytic converters, either for the whole converter or for just the platinum-coated pellets.

Tips & Warnings

• Never attempt to remove a hot catalytic converter. Serious burns or injuries can occur.

• Always make sure that a vehicle is parked and secure before attempting to remove its catalytic converter.