Extraction of selected platinum-group metals from supported catalyst
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
InventorsMalek Y.S. Ibrahim, Scott E. Denmark
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a method for extracting precious metals from supported catalysts. The precious metal in one embodiment is rhodium. The supported catalyst may be from equipment, such as a used catalytic converter. The method is carried out at low temperature, and does not require harsh conditions, such as the use of a strong acid. The method involves contacting the catalytic material with a polar molecule and a reactive gas.
Claims20
A method of extracting a selected platinum group metal from a composite, the method comprising:
- immersing a composite comprising the selected platinum group metal in a liquid comprising a polar molecule;
- and
- while the composite is immersed, exposing the composite to a reactive gas to extract the selected platinum group metal therefrom.
A method of extracting a quantity of rhodium from a composite, the method comprising:
- immersing the composite into an aqueous liquid comprising an organic solvent;
- and
- while the composite is immersed, exposing the composite to one of nitric oxide or carbon monoxide at a temperature below 80 degrees Celsius to extract the quantity of rhodium.
A method of separating rhodium from a supported catalyst, the method comprising:
- immersing a supported catalyst comprising rhodium and a catalytically inert support material into an aqueous liquid comprising at least one of acetonitrile, ethyldimethylamine, dimethylformamide, or trimethylamine;
- and
- while the supported catalyst is immersed, exposing the supported catalyst to one of nitric oxide and carbon monoxide at a temperature below 80 degrees Celsius and at a pressure between 1 bar and 25 bar to extract the rhodium, such that at least 90% of the rhodium is extracted after 24 hours.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.