Chromatographic separation of platinum group metals from simulated high level liquid waste using macroporous silica-based adsorbents

• Three novel macroporous silica-based adsorbents are used in this study.
• Chromatographic separation behavior of Ru, Rh and Pd were studied by column method.
• Separation effects of every column experiment for aim elements were compared.
• A relatively excellent chromatographic separation operating for PGMs was obtained.

To separate platinum group metals (PGMs) from high level liquid waste, three novel macroporous silica-based adsorbents, namely, (Crea + Dodec)/SiO2-P, (Crea + TOA)/SiO2-P and (MOTDGA + TOA)/SiO2-P, were synthesized by introducing extractants Crea (N′,N′-di-n-hexyl-thiodiglycolamide), TOA (Tri-n-octylamine), MOTDGA (N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-di-n-octyl-thiodiglycolamide) along with theirs modifier, Dodec (n-dodecyl alcohol), into 50 μm diameter SiO2-P particles by impregnation. Chromatographic separation of PGMs from simulated high level liquid waste was investigated by column method. It was found that 100% of Pd(II) and Re(VII) could be eluted out from simulate HLLW in 3.0 M HNO3 solution using three adsorbents. For Ru(III) and Rh(III), high temperature has distinct effect on the adsorption rate and a further study for Ru(III) and Rh(III) is necessary to separate them from HLLW completely. In all six column experiments, a relatively satisfactory chromatographic separation operating for PGMs from simulated HLLW was obtained using (Crea + TOA)/SiO2-P adsorbent packed column at 323 K.