Scientists from Krasnoyarsk have developed a safe technology for extracting rare platinum metals from industrial waste. The new method makes it possible to obtain rhodium and iridium without harmful emissions, reducing Russia’s dependence on imports of strategic raw materials.
Specialists from the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center SB RAS have proposed a fundamentally new approach to the production of rhodium and iridium, valuable platinum group metals. Unlike traditional methods, which use toxic substances and multi-stage processes, Krasnoyarsk chemists used autoclave dissolution in hydrochloric acid under oxygen pressure.
The technology operates at a temperature of 190 °C in special titanium autoclaves, which completely eliminates the release of hazardous gases. This makes the process safe for personnel and the environment. According to project leader Oleg Belousov, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, the technique demonstrates high efficiency even with poorly soluble materials.
Laboratory tests confirmed the effectiveness of the approach. The rhodium powder was completely dissolved in two hours, and the rhodium-iridium alloy was processed by 90-95% within eight hours. This is a significant achievement given the exceptional chemical resistance of these metals.
Rhodium and iridium are strategically important elements. They are used in automobile catalysts, oil refineries, electronics and jewelry production. Existing technologies for obtaining these metals are often associated with toxic emissions and high costs, which limits the processing of secondary raw materials.
The development of Krasnoyarsk scientists solves both problems – environmental and economic. The technology is not only safer, but also more effective than traditional methods. This opens up prospects for creating modern production facilities for processing metallurgical waste.
The research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. In the future, the technology may become part of a research and production campus in Krasnoyarsk, where fundamental science and industrial implementation will be combined.
The new technique strengthens Russia’s technological sovereignty, allowing it to obtain strategic metals from its own resources. This reduces dependence on imported raw materials and opens up opportunities for the development of domestic industry.
The material was prepared with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science as part of the Decade of Science and Technology.
Source: @dprom
