Total recovery of gold, palladium, and platinum using lignophenol derivative

A tertiary amine type adsorption gel was prepared by the immobilization of dimethylamine onto crosslinked lignophenol (CLP) matrix. This novel product was studied for its adsorption behavior for Au(III), Pd(II), Pt(IV), Cu(II), Zn(II), Ni(II), and Fe(III) in 0.5–6 M hydrochloric acid medium. From our previous study, crosslinked lignophenol (CLP) is known to hold solo selectivity for Au(III). After modification to dimethylamine type adsorbent (DMA-CLP), an extended selectivity of Au(III), Pd(II), and Pt(IV) was observed. The maximum loading capacity for these three metal ions was evaluated by isotherm study. For Au(III) an impressive value of 7.2 mol/kg of DMA-CLP was observed. The feasibility of recovery of precious metals from a mixture containing several other metal ions was studied in batch mode by using both model solution and actual industrial solution obtained after aqua regia leaching of metal components in obsolate e-devices. In addition, a number of adsorption–elution cycles were produced so as to know the feasibility of multiple uses.