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.