How CATPRO operates.

1. Photo + context — You send photos of the material and describe its origin. No travel, no sample, no charge in this phase.
2. Preliminary technical screening — Review by code (when available), physical form, process of origin, industry. In some cases the initial reply is definitive.
3. In-house XRF — Immediate technical read on a received sample or in the field. Indicates whether confirmatory assay is worthwhile.
4. Protocol-based sampling — Documented collection, with process photos, weight, seal, chain of custody. The number must defend a commercial decision.
5. Economic interpretation — Grade alone is not enough. We compare against logistics cost, processing and current quote for each metal.
6. Lab coordination — ICP-MS, ICP-OES or fire assay at qualified partner laboratory, depending on matrix and final-buyer requirement.
7. Due diligence — For mineral lots or international offers, field validation, basic documentary review and bilingual report.
8. Commercial proposal — Direct purchase, intermediation toward specialised refiner, international partnership or guidance to proceed with your own channel.

Mixed lot from an industrial plant turnaround. Several big bags accumulated, declared as low-value catalytic scrap. Technical screening revealed that most of the volume was inert or spent, but a specific fraction concentrated relevant PGM grade. Pre-separation changed the outcome — the lot was not sold as uniform scrap but as two parts with different commercial channels.

Drum of black powder accumulated for years at a maintenance warehouse. The company was about to sign a licensed disposal contract for hazardous waste. Preliminary analysis from photo + process datasheet (Pd/C hydrogenation line) indicated retained PGM potential. Volumetric sampling and confirmatory assay validated it. Disposal route was redirected before regulated discard.

Mixed lot with flex (Pd/Rh) catalyst, light diesel (Pt) catalyst and DPF. To a layperson, similar-looking pieces. To the market, completely different games — relative prices of Pd, Rh and Pt have shifted in recent years, and what looked like a "good Pd lot" carried more Pt value than expected. Classification by stamped code + XRF on arrival routed each piece to the right channel.

• No specific client, lot or operation numbers. Confidentiality — the whole operation runs that way.
• No real client photos. When visual proof is needed, it happens under NDA.
• No promised result. Every lot is its own. Screening reduces risk and improves information; it does not guarantee grade.
• We do not replace refining, in-house ICP-MS, or official mineral reserve certification. Those stay with specialised channels; our role is the middle layer.