A Combined Deep Eutectic Solvent–Ionic Liquid Process for the Extraction and Separation of Platinum Group Metals (Pt,Pd, Rh)

Recovery of platinum group metals from spent materials is becoming increasingly relevant due to the high value of these metals and their progressive depletion. In recent years, there is an increased interest in developing alternative and more environmentally benign processes for the recovery of platinum group metals, in line with the increased focus on a sustainable future. To this end, ionic liquids are increasingly investigated as promising candidates that can replace state-of-the-art approaches. Specifically, phosphonium-based ionic liquids have been extensively investigated for the extraction and separation of platinum group metals. In this paper, we present the extraction capacity of several phosphonium-based ionic liquids for platinum group metals from model deep eutectic solvent-based acidic solutions. The most promising candidates, P₆₆₆₁₄Cl and P₆₆₆₁₄B2EHP, which exhibited the ability to extract Pt, Pd, and Rh quantitively from a mixed model solution, were additionally evaluated for their capacity to recover these metals from a spent car catalyst previously leached into a choline-based deep eutectic solvent. Specifically, P₆₆₆₁₄Cl afforded extraction of the three target precious metals from the leachate, while their partial separation from the interfering Al was also achieved since a significant amount (approx. 80%) remained in the leachate.     

Solution extraction of transition and post-transition heavy and precious metals by chelate and macrocyclic ligands

This review focuses on compounds and methods that can be used for the extraction and separation from solution of two classes of elements that we define as heavy metals and precious metals. These elements are often targeted because they are toxic, costly, and their coordination chemistry has already been well studied, and because there is a need to develop methods of economically extracting, separating and recovering them from waste sites. This review outlines possible strategies that can be used, and reviews the present literature regarding the available methods for their extraction.     

Rice Bran as an Excellent Sorbent for Heavy Metals from Aqueous Media, 2. Determination of Related Parameters

In part 2 of this report related parameters of the rice bran (as a sorbent of heavy metals) such as exchange capacity, distribution coefficients and isotherms, etc. were studied. The obtained results show that selectivity of the bran towards heavy metals such as Cu(II), Cd(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II) is very high. Also, distribution coefficients between aqueous solution and bran are more than 10⁴ so that all cations are completely adsorbed by the bran in relatively low concentrations. The principal advantages of this sorbent are as follows: high efficiency, very high exchanging speed, cheapness (in comparison with conventional resins), performance in batch and continuous conditions and producing no environmental pollution. The only disadvantage of the bran is low exchanging capacity for some elements (but for lead it is comparable to classical resins); however, it is able to eliminate heavy metals in mg/L level and above. On the other hand, due to low cost of bran and high cost of recovery of ion exchangers there is no necessity to recover the bran. Reproducibility of the proposed method in removal of heavy metals is excellent and the relative standard deviations for eight repeated removals for all cations with the exception of iron are less than 1%.     

Trace Metal Speciation and Research in Marine Geochemistry

Abstract

In order to precise the origin and behaviour of trace metals associated with coastal marine sediments, marine geochemists frequently utilize various methods of sequential extraction. The main objective is to test the potential mobility / stability of particulate metals in the natural environments. Several examples are presented in the article, namely: i/ Exchangeable Pb from podzolic soils of the drainage basin of a lagoon which sediments and phreatic waters are for a large part inherited from the surrounding soils; ii/ Evolution of particulate metals in an estuary; iii/ Mobility of metals at the sea bottom interface; iv/ Role of amorphous components of estuarine sediments and suspended matter; v/ Effects of dredging activities on solubility of metals in an estuary; vi/ Behaviour of heavy metals in lagoons.

Main results obtained from the extraction procedures are described, as well as particular difficulties encountered when applying some classical methods.     

The preparation of supported ionic liquids (SILs) and their application in rare metals separation

This review summarizes the preparation methods of support ionic liquids (SILs) and their applications in rare metals separation. The rare metals separation includes the recovery of high value metal ions and the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater. SILs can be used as a kind of highly efficient multifunctional separation materials. The preparation methods of SILs include chemical immobilization technique in which ILs moieties are supported on solid supports via covalent bonds and physical immobilization techniques in which ILs are immobilized on solid supports via physical method such as simple im- pregnation, sol-gel method. According to the difference of solid supports, this review summarizes the application of polymer supported ionic liquids (P-SILs), silica based material supported ionic liquids (SM-SILs) and membrane supported ionic liq- uids (M-SILs) in rare metals separation. P-SILs and SM-SILs prepared by chemical method with N-methylimidazolium group can be used as highly efficient anion exchangers with high thermal stability and good chemical stability for adsorption of Cr(VI), Re(VII), Ce(IV). P-SILs prepared via simple impregnation afforded IL functionalized solvent impregnated resins (SIRs) which showed high separation efficiency and selectivity in the separation of rare earths(III) (REs(III)). SM-SILs prepared via sol-gel method with IL doped in the support as porogens or extractant show high removal efficiencies and excellent stability for the separation of RE(III), Cr(III) and Cr(VI). M-SILs with IL as plasticizer or carrier show improved stability, high perme- ability coefficient and good selectivity for Cr(VI) transport. Different supports and different supporting methods were suffi- ciently compared. Based on the different practical application, different forms of SILs can be prepared for separation of rare metals with high separation efficiency and selectivity.     

New trends in removing heavy metals from industrial wastewater

Innovative processes for treating industrial wastewater containing heavy metals often involve technologies for reduction of toxicity in order to meet technology-based treatment standards. This article reviews the recent developments and technical applicability of various treatments for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater. A particular focus is given to innovative physico-chemical removal processes such as; adsorption on new adsorbents, membrane filtration, electrodialysis, and photocatalysis. Their advantages and limitations in application are evaluated. The main operating conditions such as pH and treatment performance are presented. Published studies of 94 cited references (1999–2008) are reviewed.It is evident from survey that new adsorbents and membrane filtration are the most frequently studied and widely applied for the treatment of metal-contaminated wastewater. However, in the near future, the most promising methods to treat such complex systems will be the photocatalytic ones which consume cheap photons from the UV-near visible region. They induce both degradation of organic pollutants and recovery of metals in one-pot systems. On the other hand, from the conventional processes, lime precipitation has been found as one of the most effective means to treat inorganic effluent with a metal concentration of >1000 mg/L. It is important to note that the overall treatment cost of metal-contaminated water varies, depending on the process employed and the local conditions. In general, the technical applicability, plant simplicity and cost-effectiveness are the key factors in selecting the most suitable treatment for inorganic effluent     

Spontaneous electrochemical transport reactions in ionic and ionic-electronic salt melts: The production of diffusion coatings

Extensive material concerning the interaction of metals in ionic and ionic-electronic salt melts is presented. The mechanism and character of the phenomenon of the directed spontaneous transport of metals by their ions in salt melts are established. Examples of application of this phenomenon for depositing diffusion coatings on metals and alloys (by aluminum, beryllium, boron, zinc, titanium, chromium, silicon, and so on, as well as by two-component coatings) are presented.     

Simultaneous determination of traces of iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, mercury and lead in water by energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry after preconcentration as their piperazino-1,4-bis(dithiocarbamate) complexes

A bidentate chelating agent has been proposed to preconcentrate seven metal ions dissolved in an aqueous sample for their simultaneous determination using energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The metal ions are precipitated as their polymeric piperazino-1,4-bis(dithiocarbamate) chelates, which are then collected by vacuum filtration on a Millipore membrane filter for direct examination by x-ray fluorescence analysis. Iron, cobalt, nickel, copper and zinc are determined by means of their K x-rays and mercury and lead by means of their L x-rays. A detection limit in the μg1⁻¹ range can be achieved for all metals tested in 250-ml water samples with a counting time of 600 s. Effective precipitation of all metals occurs at pH 6–7. The recoveries of eight analyses of the metals in a multielement standard using the proposed method ranged from 97 to 105% and the precision ranged from 2.3 to 3.1%. High concentrations of calcium and magnesium do not interfere with the method. The method is simple, sensitive and accurate, and has been used for the simultaneous determination of the seven metals under study in environmental samples and synthetic mixtures.     

Determination of trace metals in the River Ye?il?rmak sediments in Tokat, Turkey using sequential extraction procedure

Sequential extraction procedure (acid extractable, reducible, oxidizable, and residual) proposed by BCR was applied for the determination of trace metals in the River Yesilirmak sediments, Tokat, Turkey. The determination of trace metals in sediment samples was performed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The proposed method showed satisfactory recovery, detection limits and standard deviation for trace metals determination in sediment samples. Generally, most of the elements were found in the oxidizable and residual fractions. The total concentrations of trace metals analyzed were found to be (mg/kg) Cu: 37.9, Mn: 392.2, Zn: 126.2, Fe: 3726, and Pb: 29.6, respectively. Results obtained are in agreement with data reported in the literature.     

Aspartic and Glutamic Acid as Ligands to Alkali and Alkaline-Earth Metals: Structural Chemistry as Related to Magnesium Therapy

Magnesium and other alkaline-earth and alkali metals play an important role in the biochemistry of virtually all living organisms. In contrast to “trace elements” these “common metals” are distributed in most cells and tissues, often in considerable concentrations, and a constant supply is indispensable for unrestricted performance of biological functions. In contemporary medicine, various forms of magnesium therapy are recommended in order to compensate for magnesium deficiency due to certain dysfunctions as well as to loss from excessive transpiration. In addition, there are numerous indications for prophylaxis. Magnesium is usually administered orally in the form of “complexes” with “natural” anions derived from I -aspartic, L -glutamic, L -pyroglutamic (pidolic), citric, and orotic acid. Analytical, electrochemical, and spectroscopic investigations of aqueous solutions of these Pharmaceuticals, together with X-ray diffraction studies of crystalline samples, have given a detailed knowledge of these coordination compounds. Only certain combinations can be addressed as magnesium complexes, whereas others are only present as aquo complexes both in aqueous solutions and in the solid state. Thus, a delicate balance of metal complexation and hydrogen bonding exists for the components of the drugs, which is relevant for the metal carrier functions of the organic ligands. Compared with the more flexible stereochemistry of Ca, Sr, Ba, Mn^II , Zn, Li, Na, and K complexes, which have coordination numbers between 4 and 9, octahedral hexacoordination is found exclusively for magnesium, the most stereoselective of these metals.     

The Cadmium Oxide Route to Alkali Metal Oxometallates with Uncommon Structural Features

The aim of this research report is to give an introduction to a specific solid state reaction applied in the field of alkali metal rich transition metal compounds. The approach is an explorative investigation of the oxidation of transition metals with CdO in the presence of alkali metal oxides and / or compounds with complex anions such as Na₂SO₄. Thereby, a range of unusual compounds have been obtained and structurally characterized. In particular, low valences and uncommon coordination numbers (C.N.) of the late 3d transition metals, as well as interesting varieties in the anionic part of the structures are accessible. The presented examples were selected mainly in order of their inherent aspects concerning the reactivity, structural features or electronic structures.     

燃烧过程中碱/碱土金属对重金属迁移转化影响的研究进展

碱/碱土金属广泛存在于各种固体燃料中，在燃烧过程中碱/碱土金属与燃料中重金属及其他矿物发生复杂的物理化学反应，从而影响重金属的迁移和转化。本研究主要介绍了碱/碱土金属对As、Se、Pb和Cr四种重金属迁移转化的影响规律，包括碱金属和碱土金属对重金属迁移转化的影响，颗粒物团聚与黏结对重金属排放的影响三个方面。碱/碱土金属能够抑制重金属的挥发：碱金属与Cl元素的结合，降低了PbCl₂的生成；碱金属的存在有利于提升高岭土对Pb的吸附效率；碱/碱土金属可以与As和Se形成稳定的化合物。但同时需要注意碱/碱土金属与Cr的部分结合产物中，Cr以六价态存在，具有较高的毒性。碱/碱土金属对于团聚现象发生，分别起到了促进和抑制作用，适当含量的碱金属有利于减少重金属的释放。通过总结碱/碱土金属对重金属迁移转化的影响规律，以期为降低重金属的危害提供思路。     

Encoding Chiral Molecular Information in Metal Structures

The concept of encoding molecular information in bulk metals has been proposed over the past decade. The structure of various types of molecules, including enantiomers, can be imprinted in achiral substrates. Typically, to encode metals with chiral information, several approaches, based on chemical and electrochemical concepts, can be used. In this Minireview, recent achievements with respect to the development of such materials are discussed, including the entrapment of chiral biomolecules in metals, the chiral imprinting of metals, as well as the combination of imprinting with nanostructuring. The features and potential applications of these designer materials, such as chirooptical properties, enantioselective adsorption and separation, as well as their use for asymmetric synthesis will be presented. This will illustrate that the development of molecularly encoded metal structures opens up very interesting perspectives, especially in the frame of chiral technologies.     

Analytical performance of a multi-element ICP-AES method for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Pb determination in blood fraction samples

An analytical method using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) for rapid simultaneous determination of seven heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Pb) in human blood fractions, like plasma, cells fraction and whole blood, is performed. The optimum wavelength was selected using as criterions the sensitivity, the linearity and recovery of aqueous standard solutions. The pretreatment of the sample, the centrifugal conditions, the necessity of digestion and the dilution of the digests were also studied. For plasma it was possible to avoid digestion of the sample, but for cells fractions and whole blood the digestion is necessary. The samples were acid-digested by HNO₃ in closed Teflon tubes under high temperature and pressure conditions and were diluted before injection into ICP-AES. Also, optimization of the inductively coupled plasma conditions like nebulizer argon flow rate, sample flow rate and power of radio frequency was performed for each analyte. Finally, the effect of the type of the employed calibration technique on the total variation of the method was examined. Calibration using the standard addition technique was proved more accurate for the determination in terms of analyte recovery. The sensitivity and recovery (Cd 99%, Co 101%, Cr 100%, Cu 99%, Mn 101%, Ni 100% and Pb 97%) of the developed method are presented for all examined blood fractions. Correspondence: George A. Zachariadis, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece     

Cadmium,copper, lead,and zinc determination in precipitation: A comparison of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and graphite furnace atomization atomic absorption spectrometry

Selected trace element analysis for cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in precipitation samples by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission Spectrometry (ICP) and by atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace atomization (AAGF) have been evaluated. This task was conducted in conjunction with a longterm study of precipitation chemistry at high altitude sites located in remote areas of the southwestern United States. Coefficients of variation and recovery values were determined for a standard reference water sample for all metals examined for both techniques. At concentration levels less than 10 micrograms per liter AAGF analyses exhibited better precision and accuracy than ICP. Both methods appear to offer the potential for cost-effective analysis of trace metal ions in precipitation.     

A perturbed hard-sphere equation of state for liquid metals

A perturbed hard-sphere equation of state, developed previously for liquid alkali metals and liquid refractory metals, has been applied for PVT calculation of some pure liquid metals including alkaline earth metals, tin, lead, antimony, bismuth, and rubidium over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. Two temperature-dependent parameters appear in the equation of state, which are universal functions of the reduced temperature, i.e. two scale parameters are sufficient to calculate the temperature-dependent parameters. The scaling parameters can be easily obtained by employing a corresponding-states principle based on a Lennard-Jones potential energy function. Employing the present equation of state, the liquid densities of aforementioned metals at temperatures ranging from the melting point to 2000?K and at pressures ranging from vapour pressure up to 40,000?bar have been calculated and compared with experimental data. The average absolute deviation in predicted densities compared with experimental data is 1.54%.     

Heavy Metals in Acrylic Color Paints Intended for the School Children Use: A Potential Threat to the Children of Early Age

Heavy metals are the harmful elements, regarded as carcinogens. Nevertheless, owing to their physical and chemical properties, they are still used in the production of several commercial products. Utilization of such products increases the chance for the exposure of heavy metals, some of them are categorized as probable human carcinogens (Group 1) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Exposure of heavy metals to school children at early age can result severe life time health issues and high chance of emerging cancer. Thus, we have performed study relating to the presence of heavy metals in acrylic color paints commonly used by the school children. Acrylic paints of different colors were assayed for seven potential heavy metals manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) using microwave digestion and iCAPQ inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) system. The optimized method including paints digestion reagents nitric acid (HNO₃, 65%, 5 mL) and hydrofluoric acid (HF, 40%, 2 mL) have offered excellent method performance with recovery values ranged between 99.33% and 105.67%. The elements were identified in all of the analyzed samples with concentrations ranged from 0.05 to 372.59 µg/g. Cd constitutes the lower percentage (0.05%), whereas Zn constitutes high ratio contribution which was tremendously high (68.33%). Besides, the paints contamination was also color specific, with considerably total heavy metal concentrations found in brunt umber (526.57 µg/g) while scarlet color (12.62 µg/g) contained lower amounts. The outcomes of our investigation highlight the necessity for guidelines addressing the heavy metals in acrylic color paints intended for the school children usage.     

A Radical Polymer as a Two‐Dimensional Organic Half Metal

Given that half‐metals are promising futuristic materials for spintronics, organic materials showing half‐metal character are highly desirable for spintronic devices, not only owing to their weak spin‐orbit and hyperfine interactions, but also their light and flexible properties. We predict that a two‐dimensional organic 2,4,6‐tri‐(1,3,5‐triazinyl)methyl radical polymer has half‐metallic properties as well as a spontaneous magnetic ordering at ambient temperature. The quantum transmission is studied based on the nonequilibrium Green function theory coupled with density functional theory. The half‐metallic property in the triazine‐based polymer depends mainly on the nature of the p‐band in contrast to of conventional half metals in which the nature of the d‐band is more important.     

Noble metals in polyoxometalates

Polyoxometalates containing noble metal ions, such as ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, palladium, platinum, silver and gold, are a structurally diverse class of compounds. They include both classical heteropolyanions (vanadates, molybdates, tungstates) in which noble metals are present as heteroatoms, as well as the recently discovered class of polyoxometalates with noble metal "addenda" atoms. The focus of this Review is on complexes that should, in principle, exist as discrete molecular species in solution, and which are therefore of interest for their reactivity, their future synthetic utility and potential applications, for example, in catalysis or nanoscience.     

From Waste to Green Applications: The Use of Recovered Gold and Palladium in Catalysis

The direct use in catalysis of precious metal recovery products from industrial and consumer waste is a very promising recent area of investigation. It represents a more sustainable, environmentally benign, and profitable way of managing the low abundance of precious metals, as well as encouraging new ways of exploiting their catalytic properties. This review demonstrates the feasibility and sustainability of this innovative approach, inspired by circular economy models, and aims to stimulate further research and industrial processes based on the valorisation of secondary resources of these raw materials. The overview of the use of recovered gold and palladium in catalytic processes will be complemented by critical appraisal of the recovery and reuse approaches that have been proposed.