Sergey N. Kovtun, Mick F. O'Meara, Nanthakumar Victor.

ABSTRACT:

The current extraction method of the Platinum Group of Metals (PGM) from an ore concentrate and the subsequent separation of one PGM metal from another is a time-consuming complicated multi-step process. The use of the Chemical Vapour Metal Refining (CVMR^®) process for the extraction and separation of PGMs is a simple and economical alternative. The paper covers the CVMR^® process, which is based on the formation of volatile metal compounds, followed by extraction and thermal decomposition into the pure metals and reagent gases.

In the case of PGMs, CVMR^® does not use CO, and hence, the process is quite different from the carbonyl process previously attempted by a number of organizations and test facilities. CVMR^® extracts PGMs via synthesis of trifluorophosphine complexes at low pressures and low temperatures (80 to 100 ^oC). These two facts alone make the process highly economical, compared to other methods available.

This paper presents a comparison between the process of extraction of PGM's and CVMR^® proprietary carbonyl process for the extraction of nickel and cobalt. In the carbonyl process, CVMR^® also uses very low pressures and temperatures, compared to varies other processes currently used.