Method for hydrometallurgical processing of a noble metal-tin alloy

Abstract

A method for the hydrometallurgical processing of a noble metal-tin alloy consisting of (i) 0.45 to 25% by weight of at least one metal A selected from the group consisting of gold and platinum, (ii), 35 to 99.2% by weight of at least one metal B selected from the group consisting of palladium, silver, and copper, (iii) 0.3 to 30% by weight tin, and (iv) 0 to 50% by weight of at least one element other than gold, platinum, palladium, silver, copper, and tin, and has a weight ratio of metal A:tin of ≥0.7:1, comprising the steps of: (a1) specifically selecting a noble metal-tin alloy or (a2) specifically producing a noble metal-tin alloy; (b) dissolving nitric acid-soluble components of the noble metal-tin alloy with nitric acid while forming a nitric acid-containing solution comprising the at least one metal B in the form of the dissolved nitrate, and an undissolved residue; (c) separating the undissolved residue from the nitric acid-containing solution; and (d) dissolving the separated residue in a medium that comprises hydrochloric acid and at least one oxidation agent.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.