Polyurethane foam for the extraction of rhodium and its separation from iridium

The rate of reaction of rhodium with thiocyanate at 90 degrees in the presence of lithium chloride or sufficient hydrochloric acid and the subsequent extraction of the metal from hydrochloric acid medium by polyether-type polyurethane foam was investigated. The effect of the chloride salts of different cations decreased in the order Li(+) > Na(+) > K(+) indicating that Rh(SCN)(6)(3-) is extracted through a simple solvent-extraction mechanism rather than the "cation-chelation" mechanism. The separation of rhodium and iridium was also examined and the results indicated that in the presence of 5-fold excess of iridium, an average of 95 +/- 2% iridium remained in the aqueous phase while an average of 93 +/- 2% rhodium was retained by the foam.     

Extraction of ruthenium thiocyanate and its separation from rhodium by polyurethane foam

Conditions for the formation and extraction of the thiocyanate complex of ruthenium are reported. Distribution coefficients of more than 10(4) and a capacity of about 0.24 mole per kg of foam were obtained. The effect of the chloride salts of various univalent cations on the extraction of Ru(SCN)(6)(3-) indicated that the efficiency of ruthenium extraction depends on how well the cation fits into the polyether segment of the polyurethane foam, which agrees with the "cation-chelation" mechanism. The separation of ruthenium and rhodium indicated that more than 95% of the rhodium remained in the aqueous phase and about 95% of the ruthenium was retained by the polyurethane foam and could be easily recovered.     

The separation of rhodium and iridium by anion-exchange

The separation of rhodium and iridium in amounts of 100–1000 μg was achieved with a strongly basic anion-exchange resin. Rhodium was eluted with 0.8 M hydrochloric acid containing cerium(IV) sulfate. Iridium was recovered by eluting with concentrated nitric acid at 74°C, which minimized the formation of hydrolysis products. Recoveries of 98% or more were obtained for both metals.     

The separation of rhodium and iridium on a microscale

Summary In response to the great need for methods of separation of rhodium and iridium, a procedure has been developed in which rhodium is displaced from a boiling, dilute sulphuric acid solution by antimony dust. A method is described for the separation of antimony from iridium by distilling the former as the trichloride after which the iridium is determined withp-nitrosodimethylaniline. The rhodium in the antimony residue may be determined with either stannous chloride or 2-mercapto-4,5-dimethylthiazole.

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Zusammenfassung Da ein gutes Verfahren für die Trennung von Rhodium und Iridium benötigt wird, wurde eine Methode untersucht, bei der das Rhodium aus kochender, schwach schwefelsaurer Lösung durch Antimonstaub gefällt wird. Das Rhodium im Niederschlag kann entweder mit Zinn(II)-chlorid oder mit 2-Merkapto-4,5-dimethylthiazol photometrisch bestimmt werden.Das in Lösung gehende Antimon stört bei Bestimmung des Iridiums und wird deshalb als Trichlorid aus der Lösung ausgetrieben, wonach das Iridium mittels der Farbreaktion mit p-Nitrosodimethylanilin photometrisch bestimmt wird.

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Résumé Répondant à la grande nécessité de disposer de méthodes de séparation du rhodium et de l'iridium, les auteurs ont mis au point une technique dans laquelle le rhodium est déplacé, par la poudre d'antimoine dans une solution d'acide sulfurique diluée et bouillante. Ils décrivent ensuite une méthode de séparation de l'antimoine de l'iridium par distillation du trichlorure d'antimoine; l'iridium est ensuite dosé par la p-nitrosodiméthylaniline. Quant au rhodium il peut être dosé dans le résidu d'antimoine soit par le chlorure stanneux, soit par le 2-mercapto-4,5-diméthylthiazole.

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The authors are grateful for financial assistance from the National Research Council of Canada.     

The separation of rhodium and iridium by ion flotation

Mixtures of iridium(IV) and rhodium(III) as IrCl^2-₆ and RhCl^3-₆ are separated by ion flotation. The iridium(IV) is selectively floated from aqueous solutions of pH 2 and 0.05% Ce(IV) with either hexadecyltripropylammonium bromide (HTPAB) or hexadecyltributylammonium bromide (HTBAB). The rhodium(III) does not float under the same conditions. The floated iridium sublate is collected in n-butyl acetate without contamination by the unfloated rhodium. Data are presented also for the separation and recovery of the Ir(IV) and Rh(III) with the above surfactants, hexadecyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (HTMAB) and hexadecyltriethylammonium bromide (HTEAB) from solutions of various sodium chloride and hydrochloric acid concentrations. The use of solvent sublation for recovering the floated iridium is examined. The separation is fast, practical, simple and does not require expensive reagents or apparatus. For these reasons, the separation of iridium and rhodium by ion flotation offers advantages over previous methods.     

Anion-exchange separation of rhodium and iridium by ECTEOLA-cellulose column

Summary The separation of Rh(III) and Ir(IV) in amounts of 20–5300 and 20–7700 g, respectively, and in ratios of RhIr=1100 to 1001 was achieved without cross-contamination by use of a 3 g ECTEOLA-cellulose column. Rh was first eluted with 40 ml of a 3 mol/l HCl-1% (w/v) NaClO₃ solution. Ir(IV) was desorbed with 60 ml of a 6 mol/l HCl-0.1% (w/v) NaClO₃ solution. Quantitative recoveries were obtained for each metal. The present method provides much better resolution than the other existing anion-exchange methods and can effectively be applied to the separations and recoveries of Rh and Ir(III or IV) present in a more extensive range of amounts and ratios.

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Anionenaustausch-Trennung von Rhodium und Iridium mit Hilfe einer ECTEOLA-Cellulose-Säule

     

The extraction of iridium and platinum from organic solvents by polyurethane foam

The feasibility of extracting iridium and platinum from organic solvents onto polyurethane foam was studied. Distribution ratios obtained were 1.1 x 10(4) for the extraction of iridium from ethyl acetate, 225 for the extraction of iridium from acetone and 4.8 x 1O(3) for the extraction of platinum from ethyl acetate. Capacities of about 16% w/w were obtained for extraction of iridium from ethyl acetate, and about 2.4% for extraction from acetone.     

Molybdenum determination in iron matrices by ICP-AES after separation and preconcentration using polyurethane foam

A procedure is proposed for the separation and determination of molybdenum in iron matrices by a batch process. It is based on the solid-phase extraction of the molybdenum(V) ion as thiocyanate complex on polyurethane (PU) foam. The extraction parameters were optimized. Using 0.20 mol L^–1 hydrochloric acid, a thiocyanate concentration of 0.10 mol L^–1, 100 mg of polyurethane foam and shaking time of 10 min, molybdenum (5–400 μg) can be separated and preconcentrated from large amounts of iron (10 mg). Desorption was carried out instantaneously by conc. nitric acid or acetone. Distribution coefficients, sorption capacity of the PU foam and coefficients of variation were also evaluated. The effect of some ions on the separation procedure was assessed. Iron(III) should be reduced to iron(II). The proposed procedure was used to determine molybdenum in standard iron matrices such as steel and pure iron. The achieved results did not show significant differences with certified values.     

Molybdenum determination in iron matrices by ICP-AES after separation and preconcentration using polyurethane foam

A procedure is proposed for the separation and determination of molybdenum in iron matrices by a batch process. It is based on the solid-phase extraction of the molybdenum(V) ion as thiocyanate complex on polyurethane (PU) foam. The extraction parameters were optimized. Using 0.20 mol L-1 hydrochloric acid, a thiocyanate concentration of 0.10 mol L-1, 100 mg of polyurethane foam and shaking time of 10 min, molybdenum (5-400 micrograms) can be separated and preconcentrated from large amounts of iron (10 mg). Desorption was carried out instantaneously by conc. nitric acid or acetone. Distribution coefficients, sorption capacity of the PU foam and coefficients of variation were also evaluated. The effect of some ions on the separation procedure was assessed. Iron(III) should be reduced to iron(II). The proposed procedure was used to determine molybdenum in standard iron matrices such as steel and pure iron. The achieved results did not show significant differences with certified values.     

The separation of tellurium and selenium by polyurethane foam sorbents

Tellurium and selenium can be sorbed from hydrochloric acid and hydrobromic acid solution by both polyether and polyester-based polyurethane foam. Although some acid is needed, the substitution of sodium chloride or sodium bromide increases the extraction significantly. Tellurium is extracted rapidly with > 99% sorbed in 2 min from 1.0/5.0M and 2.0/4.0M hydrochloric acid/sodium bromide. Selenium can also be sorbed quantitatively but much more slowly so that a separation is possible based on the relative rates of extraction. The capacity of polyether foam is 3% by weight of tellurium.     

Immobilization of cellulase using polyurethane foam

Cellulase was covalently immobilized using a hydrophilic polyurethane foam (Hypol®FHP 2002). Compared to the free enzyme, immobilized cellulase showed a dramatic decrease (7.5-fold) in the Michaelis constant for carboxymethylcellulose. The immobilized enzyme also had a broader and more basic pH optimum (pH 5.5–6.0), a greater stability under heat-denaturing or liquid nitrogen-freezing conditions, and was relatively more efficient in utilizing insoluble cellulose substrates. High molecular weight compounds (Blue Dextran) could move throughout the foam matrix, indicating permeability to insoluble celluloses; activity could be further improved 2.4-fold after powdering, foams under liquid nitrogen. The improved kinetic and stability features of the immobilized cellulase combined with advantageous properties of the polyurethane foam (resistance to enzymatic degradation, plasticity of shape and size) suggest that this mechanism of cellulase immobilization has high potential for application in the industrial degradation of celluloses.     

Preconcentration and separation of acaricides by polyether based polyurethane foam

This paper reports the preconcentration of some dissolved organic phosphorous and chlorinated acaricides in water by porous polyether based polyurethane foam. Preliminary screening tests on the retention of the tested compounds, i.e., dicofol and bromopropylate, by polyether foams indicated that a very high percent removal of the tested species was obtained. The retention rate was found fast and reaches equilibrium in a few minutes. The various parameters, e.g., pH, extraction media, shaking time, salt effect, temperature and sample volumes affecting the preconcentration of the tested species by the unloaded foam, trioctylamine and trimethylphosphate treated foam have been optimized via batch modes of separation. The unloaded foams were employed in column modes for the retention and recovery of the tested species. The sorption efficiency and recovery of the compounds by the unloaded foams column were found to be up to 97.5%. The height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) obtained by the unloaded foam was found to be in the range 1.1-1.3 ± 0.2 mm. The sorption mechanism of the tested compounds by the foams was discussed.     

Dihydrogen complexes of iridium and rhodium

A series of iridium and rhodium pincer complexes have been synthesized and characterized: [(POCOP)Ir(H)(H(2))] [BAr(f)(4)] (1-H(3)), (POCOP)Rh(H(2)) (2-H(2)), [(PONOP)Ir(C(2)H(4))] [BAr(f)(4)] (3-C(2)H(4)), [(PONOP)Ir(H)(2))] [BAr(f)(4)] (3-H(2)), [(PONOP)Rh(C(2)H(4))] [BAr(f)(4)] (4-C(2)H(4)) and [(PONOP)Rh(H(2))] [BAr(f)(4)] (4-H(2)) (POCOP = κ(3)-C(6)H(3)-2,6-[OP(tBu)(2)](2); PONOP = 2,6-(tBu(2)PO)(2)C(5)H(3)N; BAr(f)(4) = tetrakis(3,5-trifluoromethylphenyl)borate). The nature of the dihydrogen-metal interaction was probed using NMR spectroscopic studies. Complexes 1-H(3), 2-H(2), and 4-H(2) retain the H-H bond and are classified as η(2)-dihydrogen adducts. In contrast, complex 3-H(2) is best described as a classical dihydride system. The presence of bound dihydrogen was determined using both T(1) and (1)J(HD) coupling values: T(1) = 14 ms, (1)J(HD) = 33 Hz for the dihydrogen ligand in 1-H(3), T(1)(min) = 23 ms, (1)J(HD) = 32 Hz for 2-H(2), T(1)(min) = 873 ms for 3-H(2), T(1)(min) = 33 ms, (1)J(HD) = 30.1 Hz for 4-H(2).     

Purine-based carbenes at rhodium and iridium

Purine-based carbenes can be attached to catalysis-related metals like rhodium and iridium through the standard method of in situ deprotonation of the respective azolium salts. Thus, 1,3,7,9-tetramethylxanthinium tetrafluoroborate is obtained by the reaction of trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate and caffeine. The salt and 7,9-dimethylhypoxanthinium iodide were used as a consecutive precursor to form rhodium (I) and iridium (I) carbene complexes of the type [M(L)(L_Carbene)₂]I and M(L)(L_Carbene)(I) (M = Rh, Ir, L_Carbene = 1,3,7,9-tetramethylxanthine-8-ylidene, 7,9-dimethylhypoxanthine-8-ylidene, L = η⁴-1,5-COD, CO) (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene). All compounds were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, mass spectrometry and/or elemental analysis.     

Extraction of osmium thiocyanate and its separation from ruthenium by polyurethane foam

A detailed investigation of the conditions for formation and extraction of the thiocyanate complex of osmium by polyether-type polyurethane foam is reported. The complex which formed in solution was extracted through the “cation-chelation” mechanism and distribution coefficients of more than 10⁴ were obtained. By using conditions which inhibit the formation of the osmium-thiocyanate complex, it was possible to leave 95% of osmium in the aqueous phase while extracting more than 95% of ruthenium into polyurethane foam.     

A new solvent extraction scheme for the separation of platinum,palladium, rhodium and iridium

A new scheme is proposed for the separation of platinum, palladium, rhodium and iridium in hydrochloric acid solutions, by solvent extraction. Platinum and palladium are complexed with 2-mercaptobenzothiazole and potassium iodide and simultaneously extracted into chloroform, thus separating them from rhodium and iridium. Palladium is separated from platinum by extracting its dimethylglyoxime complex into chloroform, while rhodium is separated from iridium by extracting its 2-mercaptobenzothiazole complex into chloroform after reduction with tin(II) chloride.     

d8 rhodium and iridium complexes of corannulene

[(COE)2M]+ fragments (M = Rh, Ir; COE = cyclooctene) react with corannulene to give eta6-bound complexes [(COE)2Rh(eta6-C20H10)]PF6 and [(COE)2Ir(eta6-C20H10)]PF6. Both compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction studies, and binding in the solid state is compared with that of their aromatic analogues [(COE)2M(eta6-arene)]PF6 (aryl = benzene and phenanthrene). Solution NMR studies show that the [(COE)2Rh]+ fragment walks over the curved aromatic surface of corannulene, whereas the Ir analogue is not fluxional. Experimental as well as computational studies suggest that inter-ring movement of the Rh complex follows a hub migration mechanism. Initial reactivity studies indicate that the [(COE)2M]+ fragments can undergo chemical transformations, such as transfer dehydrogenation and substitution reactions, while still bound to corannulene.