Abstract: The disclosed methods are utilized for recovering a high percent of platinum group metals from spent catalytic converters. The methods use an aqua regia bath and ultrasonic agitation to liberate the metals from the carrier material of the washcoat, while leaving the metal supporting structure largely intact.

Abstract: The disclosed methods are utilized for recovering a high percent of platinum group metals from spent catalytic converters. The methods use an aqua regia bath and ultrasonic agitation to liberate the metals from the carrier material of the washcoat, while leaving the metal supporting structure largely intact.

Abstract: A multilayer packaging structure for microwave food reheating applications or for sterilized hot filling is provided having an outer layer prepared from a blend of polyphenylene ether and a high impact polystyrene. The polyphenylene ether-high impact polystyrene layer is useful as a structural support layer and provides resistance to distortion and burn through during microwave reconstitution or hot filling. The PPE/HIPS blend layer serves to increase the high temperature performance of the coextruded structure without sacrificing the thermoformability characteristics generally associated with HIPS based monolayer or multilayer structures. The ethylene vinyl alcohol or polyvinylidene chloride layers act as the oxygen barrier to prevent food spoilage and the polyolefin layer acts as a moisture barrier.