SEPARATION AND RECOVERY OF GOLD, PLATINUM AND PALLADIUM BY A TRIOCTYLAMINE LIQUID MEMBRANE

The carrier-mediated transport of gold(III), platinum(IV) and palladium(II) through a supported liquid membrane (SLM) has been investigated by the use of trioctylamine (TOA) as a mobile carrier. The transport behavior of precious metals greatly depended on the carrier concentration. At a low TOA concentration, Au(III) was preferentially transported across an SLM from the HCl feed solution to the HClO4 product solution. The transport of Pt(IV) and Pd(II) was enhanced with increasing carrier concentration. The separation factor of Au(III) over Pt(IV) and Pd(II) was improved with increasing concentration of HCl in the feed solution.