Abstract: A process for the recovery of platinum group metals, Ag and Au from a precious metal containing residue which includes the platinum group metals, Ag and Au together with Fe, Cu, Ni, Se and Te, the process comprising the following steps:(a) smelting the precious metal containing residue with leach residue including S and a flux to product (i) a slag and (ii) a copper matte phase containing S, the platinum group metals, Au, Ag, Se and Te, and an excess of Ni and/or Fe as defined in step (b) below,(b) removing excess of the elements Fe or Ni or compounds thereof from the matte phase produced by step (a) by oxidation thus converting the elements or compounds thereof to their respective oxides which then report to the slag phase, the excess being defined as more than about 10% by weight of iron, more than about 15% by weight of nickel or more than about 20% by weight of the total of iron and nickel, based on the weight of the matte phase,(c) contacting the matte phase produced after oxidation step (b) in liquid fo

Abstract: This invention relates to the refining of metals containing cobalt and nickel by solvent extraction.In particular the invention relates to a process for the separation of cobalt and nickel by solvent extraction comprising contacting an aqueous solution containing cobalt and nickel ions with an organic phase containing an ester of phosphoric acid in which the temperature and concentration of cobalt in the organic phase enable substantially all of the cobalt present in that phase to convert to a tetrahedral configuration.

Abstract: A process for recovering platinum group metal present as a stable complex dissolved in an aqueous effluent from a platinum group metals refinery which comprises (1) adjusting the pH of the effluent to an alkalinitz of at least 10; (2) heating to above 60.degree. C.; (3) electrolyzing the effluent at said alkalinitz and temperature using an anode potential having a half-cell voltage of at least 7.5 volts and current density of at least 0.2 A/cm.sup.2 so as to break down said complex by anodic oxidation and precipitate metal present in the complex; and (4) filtering off the precipitated metal.

Abstract: A process for recovering platinum group metal present as a stable complex dissolved in an aqueous effluent from a platinum group metals refinery which comprises (1) adjusting the pH of the effluent as necessary to an alkaline pH of at least 10; (2) heating the effluent to a temperature above 60.degree. C; (3) electrolyzing the effluent at said temperature and alkaline pH using an electrode comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt and alloys thereof at an anode potential having a half-cell voltage of at least 7.5 volts and a current density of at least 0.2 A/cm.sup.2 so as to break down said complex by anodic oxidation and precipitate metal present in the complex; and (4) filtering off the thus precipitated metal.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the separation of palladium present in aqueous solutions which also contain the salts of one or more of the platinum group metals platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium and iridium. According to one embodiment of the invention the process comprises the steps of:A. adjusting, as necessary, the pH of the platinum group metal-containing solution to render the solution acidic;B. contacting the so-obtained acidic solution with an oxime solvent; andC. removing from contact with the acidic solution the organic phase containing substantially all of the palladium present in association with the oxime solvent.