Single-Atom Catalysts Unlock Advanced Oxidation Pathways for Sustainable Precious Metal Recovery

Precious metals are indispensable for applications ranging from catalysis to electronics; however, their limited availability and the environmental burden of conventional recovery methods raise urgent sustainability concerns. Herein, we propose a single-atom catalysis strategy that enables the efficient and selective recovery of Pd, Pt, Rh, and Au from industrial spent catalysts, ternary automotive catalysts, and electronic waste. Atomically dispersed Co sites activate peroxymonosulfate to generate multiple reactive O species, resulting in the rapid oxidative leaching of precious metals under mild conditions without the use of strong acids, toxic cyanide, or external irradiation. Mechanistic analyses reveal that both radical and nonradical pathways mediated by single-atom catalysts drive the oxidative leaching of precious metals. The experimental catalyst maintains atomic dispersion and activity over multiple recycling cycles, and its integration into a semi-continuous flow apparatus demonstrates its scalability and economic feasibility. By coupling atomic-level catalytic design with practical recovery performance, this study offers a green and sustainable platform for precious metal recycling and contributes to advancing circular economy strategies for resource efficiency.