Abstract: This invention relates to a method of interseparation of platinum group metals, and in particular to the use of chromatographic media for interseparation of the PGMs from a reduced feed which are eluted in the order of iridium, rhodium and ruthenium together, followed by palladium, platinum and osmium.

Abstract: A method for the separation of rhodium and/or iridium from a solution containing ruthenium said method comprising the steps of having a rhodium chloride complex in oxidation state III, converting the ruthenium to nitrosyl complexes in divalent states and recovering rhodium and/or iridium.

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 recovery of platinum group metals and Au and Ag from high sulphur content base metal sulphide ore residues and also to the separation of Ag from the other precious metals referred to.The process for the recovery of platinum group metals, silver and gold from a base metal sulphide-containing leach residue comprises:(a) smelting the said leach residue with a flux to produce:(i) a slag containing FeO, CaO and SiO.sub.

Abstract: This invention relates to the separation and purification of the platinum group metals; more particularly it relates to the separation of mixtures of Pt and/or Pd from Rh and/or Ru.

Abstract: The separation and purification of palladium present in aqueous solutions which also contain other platinum group metals is accomplished by a process which involves contacting an acidic aqueous solution containing the palladium and other platinum group metals with an organic phase containing an oxime extractant and an anionic phase transfer material substantially soluble in the organic phase and substantially insoluble in the aqueous solution, and removing from contact with the acidic solution the organic phase containing substantially all of the palladium.

Abstract: This invention relates to refining platinum group metal concentrates and the separation therefrom of silver and of the majority of base metals with which they naturally occur. In more detail the process comprises the steps of:(a) contacting a solid particulate mixture of base, silver and precious metal components, any of which components may be in metallic or chemically combined form, with a halogen-containing gas at a temperature which is sufficiently high for the base metal and silver components to form their halides and for the said halides substantially to volatilize from the said solid mixture, and(b) removing the said volatilized halides from the solid precious metal-containing component which remains.

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: This invention relates to the treatment of effluents; more particularly it relates to the destruction of compounds or complexes which are normally very stable and which pose problems in the purification and control of effluents.Specifically, the process for recovering metal present as a stable complex in an aqueous effluent comprises the steps of:(a) adjusting the pH of the effluent as necessary to a pH of 6.+-.0.5;(b) removing by filtration a substantial quantity of base and amphoretic metals from the so treated effluent of step (a);(c) heating the filtrate from step (b) to a temperature in the region of 70.degree. C.;(d) electrolyzing the heated filtrate from step (c) at a substantially constant temperature maintained at least at 70.degree. C. so as to destroy the stable complexes and thereby precipitate the said metals in the form of hydrated oxides or hydroxides, and(e) filtering-off said precipitate.

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: This invention relates to apparatus for refining platinum group metal concentrates and the separation therefrom of silver and of the majority of base metals which are present with them. In more detail, the apparatus comprises means for reacting together gaseous hydrogen and chlorine so as to produce a flame and means for passing into the reaction zone of the said flame the said mineral concentrate in finely divided particulate form.The apparatus comprises a tubular burner having a hydrogen-chlorine flame discharging into an inner heat resistant tube, means for the passage of the said mineral concentrates in particulate form through the reaction zone of the hydrogen chlorine flame, means for maintaining the reaction zone of the flame at a temperature within the range 900.degree. C. to 2500.degree. C. and means for scrubbing the reaction products after passage through the flame with an aqueous solution.

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 refining platinum group metal concentrates and the separation therefrom of silver and of the majority of base metals with which they naturally occur. In more detail the process comprises the steps of:(a) contacting a solid particulate mixture of base, silver and precious metal components, any of which components may be in metallic or chemically combined form, with a halogen-containing gas at a temperature which is sufficiently high for the base metal and silver components to form their halides and for the said halides substantially to volatilize from the said solid mixture, and(b) removing the said volatilized halides from the solid precious metal-containing component which remains.

Abstract: This invention relates to refining platinum group metal concentrate and the separation therefrom of silver and the majority of base metals which are present in them. In more detail, the process comprises the steps of:A. contacting a solid particulate mixture of base, silver and precious metal components, any of which may be in metallic or in chemically combined form, with substantially anhydrous sulphuric acid at a temperature which is sufficiently high for most of the base metal and silver components to form water soluble sulphates andB. separating the said water soluble sulphates from the solid precious metal-containing components by contacting the product from step (a) with a dilute aqueous solution or water and dissolving therein the said water soluble sulphates formed in step (a).

Abstract: This invention relates to refining platinum group metal concentrates and the separation therefrom of silver and of the majority of base metals which are present with them. In more detail, the process comprises reacting together gaseous hydrogen and chlorine so as to produce a flame and passing into the reaction zone of the said flame the said mineral concentrate in finely divided particulate form.The specification also describes an apparatus for carrying out the above process comprising a tubular burner having a hydrogen-chlorine flame discharging into an inner heat resistant tube and means for maintaining the inner tube at an elevated temperature up to at least 2500.degree. C.

Abstract: This invention relates to the separation and purification of platinum group metals and, in particular to the separation of mixtures of rhodium, platinum and irridium. According to one specific form of the invention, the platinum, rhodium and iridium are present as salts in aqueous solution and the separation and purification is accomplished byA. adjusting the pH, as necessary, to provide an acidic solution;B. contacting the acidic solution with an oxidizing agent sufficient to effect the oxidation of all irridium to Ir(IV);c. contacting the oxidized solution with a nitrogen-containing organic compound selected from the group consisting of secondary amines, tertiary amines and quaternary ammonium compounds; andD. removing from contact with the oxidized solution an organic phase containing substantially all of the platinum and iridium present in association with the nitrogen-containing organic compound used in step (c).

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.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the separation and purification of platinum group metals and particularly platinum, rhodium and iridium. Essentially the platinum group metals are present as salts dissolved in an aqueous solution and the process for separating and purifying the platinum group metals comprises, according to one embodiment of the invention, the following steps:A. adjusting the pH, as necessary, to provide an acidic solution;B. contacting the acidic solution with a reducing agent to effect the reduction of iridium, that is, Ir(IV) to Ir(III);c. contacting the reduced solution with a nitrogen containing or organic compound selected from the group consisting of secondary amines, tertiary amines, and quaternary ammonium compounds;D. removing from contact with the solution an organic phase containing substantially all of the platinum present in association with the nitrogen-containing organic compound used in step (c);E.