Abstract: Method of determining the precious metal content of catalysts comprising a catalyst housing and a ceramic material containing catalyst material containing precious metal, which comprises the steps (a) provision of a mobile apparatus which comprises a facility for comminuting the ceramic material, a facility for weighing the ceramic material and a facility for taking a sample of the comminuted ceramic material, with the mobile apparatus having a compact construction and being easy to transport, (b) decanning of the catalyst to be analysed by separating the ceramic material from the catalyst housing, (c) comminution and weighing of the ceramic material, (d) taking of a representative sample of the comminuted ceramic material and (e) analysis of the sample to determine the precious metal content of the catalyst. A specific apparatus for the mobile pretreatment and analysis of precious metal containg catalysts is also disclosed.