Separation of gold from Cu, Pt, Pd, Ni, Zn, Cd and Hg using triphenylarsine oxide as an extractant

A method is developed for extraction of gold(III) (75–300 g) from hydrochloric acid solution with triphenylarsine oxide dissolved in toluene as extradant. Gold(III) is determined spectrophotometrically with stannous chloride. The extraction is quantitative from 1.5–1.9M hydrochloric acid with 0.25% triphenylarsine oxide and an equilibration period of 30s. The method permits separation of gold(III) from Cu(II), Pt(IV), Pd(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) and its spectrophotometric determination in ayurvedic medicines. The recovery and relative standard deviation obtained are >99.0% and <1.0%.