Method of processing a plurality of bodies of polycrystalline diamond material

A method for leaching a plurality of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutter elements each having a non-diamond phase comprising a solvent catalyst material, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a leaching receptacle for each PCD cutter element;
• (b) introducing a volume of liquid acid leaching mixture into each leaching receptacle;
• (c) attaching each PCD cutter element to a respective fixture;
• (d) applying a seal member around each PCD cutter element;
• (e) locating each fixture with each PCD cutter element attached to a respective leaching receptacle to suspend the PCD cutter elements above the acid leaching mixtures in the respective leaching receptacles;
• (f) sealing each leaching receptacle to provide a plurality of closed systems;
• (g) elevating the temperature of the liquid acid leaching mixture in each leaching receptacle to above ambient conditions to transition at least some of the liquid acid leaching mixture to acid vapour(s);
• and
• (h) exposing the PCD cutter elements to the acid vapour(s) to leach the PCD cutter elements.