Lifezone PGM Recovery Advances US Autocatalyst Recycling Strategy

Lifezone

Lifezone PGM recovery has reached an important pilot milestone after Lifezone Metals produced platinum, palladium and rhodium from US-sourced automotive catalytic converters. The result supports the company’s plan to build a US-based precious metals refinery using hydrometallurgical technology.

Lifezone PGM recovery is designed to reduce US dependence on imported platinum group metals. The US imports around 2mn oz/yr of PGMs, mainly from South Africa and Russia, creating strategic exposure for automotive, defense and aerospace supply chains.

Lifezone PGM recovery could become especially important for rhodium, which carries one of the highest supply chain risk ratings in the US. Rhodium is critical for emissions control systems and remains highly concentrated in global mine supply.

Hydrometallurgy Targets Cleaner PGM Recycling

Lifezone completed 1,179 domestic pilot batch tests over two years, using 1t of US-sourced autocatalyst material. The company recovered platinum and palladium at more than 99% purity, while rhodium reached 95%.

Further refining is still underway. Lifezone is targeting more than 99.95% purity for platinum and palladium and 99.9% purity for rhodium.

The hydrometallurgical route is strategically relevant because it can produce lower CO2 and sulphur dioxide emissions than traditional pyrometallurgical smelting and refining. This gives the project both supply-chain and environmental value.

Glencore Support Adds Scale to US Refinery Plan

Glencore continues to support the project after forming a joint venture with Lifezone at the end of 2023. The Swiss mining group invested $1.5mn for a 6% stake and has the option to fund 50% of the project capital.

Lifezone said its pilot plant work and feasibility study are close to completion. The company expects to reach a final investment decision in the first half of 2026 for a commercial US autocatalyst recycling plant.

The project could give the US a stronger domestic route to recover PGMs from end-of-life catalytic converters. If scaled, it would support circular supply for automotive emissions systems, aerospace manufacturing, defense components and high-value industrial applications.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Lifezone’s pilot milestone shows that recycling can become a strategic source of PGMs, not only an environmental solution. The decisive test will be whether the company can scale rhodium recovery to commercial purity and volume in a US-based refinery.