Abstract
Platinum group metals (PGM) are accredited for their contribution in reducing environmental damage through technological innovations. In recent years interest in hydrogen has grown rapidly resulting to the development of the concept of hydrogen economy to address two growingly noticed challenges namely climate change impacts due to GHG emissions and the need for clean energy and sustainability supply. The credits to PGM are of no doubt, yet some environmental concerns in PGM recovery process are reported with land transformation, livestock, fauna, and flora affected by use of chemicals and other non-renewable resources. Life cycle analysis of emissions from the smelter section of PGM recovery was therefore develop and equivalent carbon dioxide emissions were quantified. For one metric ton of Ore-based PGM Concentrate, a total amount of equivalent carbon dioxide of about 1.574,96 kgCO2-eq was associated with this process. In an annual initiative, the concentrator can process up to 36,547 million metric tons of ore milled accounting for 57,560,063,120 kgCO2-eq. Important emissions in this phase are waterborne and emissions to soil.