January Program Report: “Precious Metals, their Uses and Life Cycle” by Todd Ballinger, PhD

Synopsis by by Andy Thompson, MSDC Secretary

Artwork: The platinum group metals (with their periodic table data).

Dr. Todd Ballinger gave our members an excellent presentation on the value and uses of the metals known as the platinum group metals. He asked that our Program Report be simple and mention only the main points he explored, which we are happy to do as follows:

· The diverse uses of precious metals across multiple industries,

· Global supply and demand dynamics,

· The complete life cycle — from mining and manufacturing to recycling, and

· Why recycling is critical to ensuring a sustainable supply for future needs.

Beyond gold and silver, precious metals familiar to everyone, Todd focused primarily on the platinum group metals and the unique chemical properties that make them indispensable in a wide range of applications. Todd's talk was received with enthusiasm and he graciously answered his audience's many questions. Dan Teich thanked Todd for his excellent presentation and his grateful MSDC audience applauded their appreciation for his talk.

A rare platinum nugget from the National Mineral Collection (NMNH 73738). Photo by Chip Clark, Smithsonian Institution.

Todd is a Technical Sales Manager for Heraeus Precious Metals North America with 30 years of experience in the development and application of precious metal catalysts. He joined Heraeus Precious Metals in 2018 and has responsibilities for emission catalysts, catalysts for green hydrogen production, precious metal pre-cursors, and recycling of precious metal catalysts.