Rapid Dissolution of Noble Metals in Organic Solvents

The dissolution of elemental noble metals (NMs) such as gold, platinum, palladium, and copper is necessary for their recycling but carries a high environmental burden due to the use of strong acids and toxic reagents. Herein, a new approach was developed for the rapid dissolution of elemental NMs in organic solvents using mixtures of triphenylphosphine dichloride or oxalyl chloride and hydrogen peroxide, forming metal chloride salts directly. Almost quantitative dissolution of metallic Au, Pd, and Cu was observed within minutes at room temperature. For Pt, dissolution was achieved, albeit more slowly, using the chlorinating oxidant alone but was inhibited on addition of hydrogen peroxide. After leaching, transfer of Pt^IV and Pd^II chloride salts from the organic phase into a 6 m HCl aqueous phase facilitated their separation by precipitation of Pt^IV using a simple diamide ligand. In contrast, the retention of Au^III chloridometalate in the organic phase allowed its selective separation from Ni and Cu from a leachate solution obtained from electronic CPUs. This new approach has potential application in the hydrometallurgical leaching and purification of NMs from ores, spent catalysts, and electronic and nano-wastes.