SBIR Phase I: Recovery of Platinum Group Metals from Spent Catalysts

该项目探讨了从废催化剂中回收铂、钯、铑和Re三种铂族金属的可行性。待处理的催化剂将包括废汽车催化转化器和炼油催化剂。该技术基于一种使用卤素盐的湿法冶金技术。该过程本质上是环境友好的，因为反应是在完全封闭的高压锅中进行的。此外，该过程中使用的化学品将不断再生和回收，几乎不会产生固体或液体废物。在第一阶段，将评估以下对新工艺成功至关重要的关键因素：(I)最佳提取条件；(Ii)溶解后的固液分离；(Iii)浸出后的单个金属的分离。结果将与第二阶段(每天处理20公斤的连续试点试验)和第三阶段(每天处理12吨的商业化处理工艺作业)有关。这项拟议的技术旨在与现有技术兼容，节省80%的能源，而且还采用了一种环保的工艺。到2010年，美国使用这项技术的机组数量估计为56台，计算出这项技术节省的能源将超过1亿美元。同年估计节省了3亿英镑的浪费，估计节省的就业机会将超过1亿美元。

This program addresses the feasibility of a process to recover three platinum group metals including platinum, palladium and rhodium, and rhenium from spent catalysts. The catalysts to be treated will include spent automobile catalytic converters and petroleum refining catalysts. The technology is based on a hydrometallurgical technique using halogen salts. The process is inherently environmentally benign since the reaction takes place in a completely enclosed autoclave. Furthermore, the chemicals used in the process will be continuously regenerated and recycled resulting in very little solid or liquid disposal. In Phase I the following key factors essential to the success of the new process will be evaluated: (i) the optimum extraction conditions, (ii) solid liquid separation after dissolution, and (iii) separation of individual metals after leaching. The results will be related to Phase II (continuous pilot tests for handling of 20 kg a day process) and Phase III (commercialization for handling of 1 2 ton a day process operation). The proposed technology is designed to be compatible with existing technologies by saving energy by 80% and also by an environmentally benign process. The number of units using this technology operated in the U.S. by the year 2010 is estimated to be 56 and the calculated energy savings by this technology would be over $100 million. The estimated waste savings in the same year is 300 million pounds and the estimated job savings would be over $100 millions.