The history and variety of commercial Platinum Group Metal (PGM) matte converting processes are explored. Aspects unique to pneumatic converting of high iron, lower grade mattes (typically up to 30% NiCuCo), often containing chrome (0.5–2% Cr2O3), to PGM-enriched (1500–25000 g/t PGM) converter mattes, to endpoints specific to promote downstream refining to final metal are described. The range of converter vessels, involving batch, to staged, to continuous converting processes are presented, along with some of the operating requirements and challenges.
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