Platinum Group Metals Sponge Production Process Control Training

Learning Outcomes

• Apply process control principles to monitor and adjust PGM sponge production parameters.
• Analyze production data to identify deviations and implement corrective actions.
• Evaluate process efficiency and product quality against specified standards.
• Implement safety and environmental procedures relevant to PGM sponge production.
• Demonstrate effective communication and reporting within the production team.
• Design process improvements to optimize yield and reduce waste.

Target Audience

This training is designed for process controllers, production supervisors, and metallurgical technicians working in PGM refineries or smelters who are responsible for sponge production operations.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Practicals

Overview

Practical sessions are integral to this course, allowing learners to apply process control theory to simulated and actual PGM production scenarios. Learners operate pilot-scale equipment, calibrate instruments, adjust process parameters, and troubleshoot deviations under supervision, reinforcing the skills needed for effective process control.

Practical Activities

• Practical 1: Leaching Process Control — Learners operate a pilot-scale leaching reactor, adjusting temperature, pressure, and reagent feed rates while monitoring pH and ORP to achieve target dissolution efficiency. (16h)
• Practical 2: Precipitation and Filtration — Learners perform selective precipitation of platinum and palladium from simulated solutions, controlling pH and reductant addition, then filter and wash the precipitate. (16h)
• Practical 3: Calcination and Product Quality — Learners operate a small calcination furnace, setting temperature profiles and atmosphere, then characterize the sponge product for surface area and purity. (16h)
• Practical 4: Process Control Simulation and Troubleshooting — Using a process simulation software, learners design control strategies for a PGM production line, respond to simulated disturbances, and implement corrective actions. (16h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total

Component	Out of	Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored)	100%	30%
Daily Average (multiple choice)	100%	20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice)	100%	50%
Final Total	—	100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

How it works

• Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
• Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
• You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
• If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.

Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates	Discount
5	3% off
10	6% off
15	9% off
20	12% off
25	15% off
30	18% off
50	30% off
75	35% off
100	40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.