IP Library Granted Patent US 7,563,420
Granted Patent B2
US 7,563,420 · App. 11/730,125 · Granted Jul 21, 2009

Method for recovering rhodium and silver from hydrochloric acid

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,563,420
App. No.
11/730,125
Granted
Jul 21, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Object: This invention provides a method of refining an Rh-containing solution also containing at least one type of impurities of heavy metals, alkaline earth metals, and Ag. Means for solving the problems: The invention provides a method of refining an Rh-containing hydrochloric acid solution also containing Ag and at least one other impurity of heavy metals and alkaline earth metals, the method comprising the steps of: (a) adding an alkali to the solution to adjust pH of the solution to 7-12, whereby generating a neutralized precipitate containing Rh and other components; (b) filtrating and separating the neutralized precipitate; (c) adding a first hydrochloric acid for redissolving the neutralized precipitate in an amount such that the mole ratio of Cl to Rh (mole ratio Cl/Rh) of a resulting solution becomes 3-4; (d) filtering the resulting solution to remove Ag as precipitate, and (e) extracting the solution obtained by the previous step as an aqueous phase with DEHPA.

Claims (17)

1. A method of refining an Rh-containing hydrochloric acid solution also containing Ag and at least one other impurity of heavy metals and alkaline earth metals, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) adding an alkali to the solution to adjust pH of the solution to 7-12, whereby generating a neutralized precipitate containing Rh and other components;

(b) filtrating and separating the neutralized precipitate;

(c) adding a first hydrochloric acid for dissolving the neutralized precipitate in an amount such that the mole ratio of Cl to Rh of a resulting solution becomes 3-4;

(d) filtering the resulting solution to remove Ag as precipitate, and

(e) extracting the solution obtained by the previous step as an aqueous phase with di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid.

2. A method of refining an Rh-containing hydrochloric acid solution also containing Ag and at least one other impurity of heavy metals and alkaline earth metals, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) adding an alkali to the solution to adjust pH of the solution to 7-12, whereby generating a neutralized precipitate containing Rh and other components;

(b) filterating and separating the neutralized precipitate;

(c) adding a first hydrochloric acid for dissolving the neutralized precipitate in an amount such that the mole ratio of Cl to Rh of a resulting solution becomes 2.7-3.5;

(d) filtering the resulting solution to remove Ag as precipitate,

(d′) adding a second hydrochloric acid in an amount such that the mole ratio Cl/Rh of a resulting solution becomes 4-8, and

(e) extracting the solution obtained by the previous step as an aqueous phase with di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid.

3. The method according to the claim 1 , wherein, in step (c), the resulting solution is heated at or above 90° C. and then cooled.

4. The method according to the claim 2 , wherein, in step (d′), the resulting solution is heated at or above 90° C. and then cooled to room temperature.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 3 , wherein, in step (c), Ru in the resulting solution is reduced to less than or equal to 20 mg/L to keep the recovery rate of Rh into the aqueous phase high.

6. The method according to claim 2 or 4 , wherein, in step (c) or (d′), Ru in the resulting solution is reduced to less than or equal to 20 mg/L to keep the recovery rate of Rh into the aqueous phase high.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME/MERGER Recorded Jun 9, 2011
From: NIPPON MINING & METALS CO., LTD.
To: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026417/0023 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2007
From: USUI, SHOUJIROU; ITO, YOSHIO; OKAJIMA, NOBUAKI; SEKINE, KAZUHIRO
To: NIPPON MINING & METALS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 019514/0281 →