Extraction of palladium from nitrate solution by triphenylphosphine or triphenylphospine oxide in chloroform

It is found that from aqueous nitric acid media, Pd is highly extracted by chloroform solutions containing triphenylphosphine (Ph₃P) and not extracted by triphenylphosphine oxide (Ph₃PO) diluted with chloroform. The effect of diluent, nitric acid molarities, Ph₃P concentration and temperature on palladium extraction by Ph₃P was investigated. Slope analysis of the experimental results indicated that the main extracted species is in the form of Pd(NO₃)₂·2Ph₃P.IR spectrum analysis of the extracted complex indicated the direct extraction of palladium as nitrate and bonding to phosphorus. Extraction of some fission product radionuclides from 2M HNO₃ showed the selective extraction of palladium by Ph₃P in chloroform.