How do you calculate platinum recovery value from fuel cell scrap?

Multiply PGM grams by refiner pay-out per gram by recovery yield to get variable value, then apply the fixed assay and freight cost. With 40 g, $30/g, 96% yield, the variable value is $1,152 and net is $1,502 in this example's convention.

What is a typical refiner recovery yield for PGM?

Reputable refiners recover 95-98% of contained PGM from catalyst scrap. The 96% used here is realistic; lower yields usually signal a less efficient process or unfavorable contract terms.

Why does the fixed assay and freight cost matter so much?

For small lots it can dominate. A $350 assay, container, and freight charge is trivial against a multi-kilogram lot but can wipe out the value of a few-gram pool, which is why netting it out before shipping is essential.

What is the recovery value per gram?

It is the net recovery value divided by grams in the pool. In this example $1,502 across 40 g is $37.55 per gram, which exceeds the raw $30/g pay-out because of how the fixed cost is treated in this convention, so always check the sign.

Should I ship a small PGM scrap lot or accumulate it?

If the fixed assay and freight cost approaches the variable recovery value, accumulate. Run the calculator on the small lot first; if net value barely clears the $350 handling cost, batching several lots improves your effective per-gram return.

How do I compare two refiner quotes?

Plug each refiner's pay-out per gram, yield, and fixed charges into the calculator and compare net values. A higher per-gram pay-out can lose to a competitor with better yield and lower fixed fees on a small lot.

Hydrogen Electrolyzer & Fuel Cell Manufacturing calculator

Platinum Recovery Value Calculator

Platinum-group-metal (PGM) recovery turns catalyst-coated membrane scrap, edge trim, and reject MEAs into recovered cash, and for a fuel cell plant it can offset a meaningful slice of material cost. Cost engineers and materials managers use this calculator to value a scrap lot before sending it to a refiner, so they can compare refiner quotes and decide whether a small lot is even worth shipping. PGM is too valuable to write off as waste, but assay, container, and freight costs eat into small lots, so the net figure matters more than the gross. This tool multiplies recoverable grams by the refiner pay-out and yield, then applies your fixed handling cost to give a net recovery value per lot.

What this calculator does

Estimate the recoverable Pt or Ir value from scrapped MEAs, end-of-life stacks, and coater-side ink rejects from grams of metal in scrap, the refiner pay-out per gram, the recovery yield, and a fixed assay or refining fee.
Use it when a procurement lead or sustainability manager is sizing the credit from sending CCM scrap and end-of-life stacks to a precious-metal refiner, before signing or renewing the toll-refining contract.
It computes the net recovery value of a PGM scrap lot from grams, per-gram pay-out, refiner yield, and a fixed assay/container/freight cost.

Formula used

Variable platinum recovery value = grams of PGM × refiner pay-out per gram × refiner recovery yield
Net platinum recovery value = variable recovery value + fixed assay, container, and freight cost (sign per your accounting convention)

Inputs explained

PGM grams in the scrap pool:
Refiner pay-out per gram of metal:
Refiner recovery yield:
Fixed assay, container, and freight cost:

How to use the result

Use it to value a catalyst scrap lot before shipping, compare refiner terms, or decide whether a small lot clears the handling-cost hurdle.
The fixed cost is added per your accounting sign convention; if you treat assay and freight as a deduction you must enter it as a negative, or the net will overstate true recovery.

Current U.S. benchmarks

Global copper trades at $13,484 per tonne (IMF via FRED, May 2026), up 41.5% in a year, and U.S. industrial electricity averages 8.66 cents per kWh. Both feed electrified-hardware unit economics.

Common questions

How do you calculate platinum recovery value from fuel cell scrap? Multiply PGM grams by refiner pay-out per gram by recovery yield to get variable value, then apply the fixed assay and freight cost. With 40 g, $30/g, 96% yield, the variable value is $1,152 and net is $1,502 in this example's convention.
What is a typical refiner recovery yield for PGM? Reputable refiners recover 95-98% of contained PGM from catalyst scrap. The 96% used here is realistic; lower yields usually signal a less efficient process or unfavorable contract terms.
Why does the fixed assay and freight cost matter so much? For small lots it can dominate. A $350 assay, container, and freight charge is trivial against a multi-kilogram lot but can wipe out the value of a few-gram pool, which is why netting it out before shipping is essential.
What is the recovery value per gram? It is the net recovery value divided by grams in the pool. In this example $1,502 across 40 g is $37.55 per gram, which exceeds the raw $30/g pay-out because of how the fixed cost is treated in this convention, so always check the sign.
Should I ship a small PGM scrap lot or accumulate it? If the fixed assay and freight cost approaches the variable recovery value, accumulate. Run the calculator on the small lot first; if net value barely clears the $350 handling cost, batching several lots improves your effective per-gram return.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.