Mixer-settler operation for the recovery of platinum, iron and hydrochloric acid from the leaching solution of spent petroleum reforming catalysts

Bench scale mixer-settler was employed to recover Pt, Fe and HCl from the hydrochloric acid leaching solution of spent catalysts. The number of stages and flow rate ratio of the aqueous to organic was estimated from the McCabe–Thiele plots for the extraction and stripping of the elements. In mixer-settler operation, Fe was first completely extracted by TBP and then the most of Pt was extracted by Aliquat336. Finally, HCl was recovered by extraction with TEHA and by stripping with water. From mixer-settler operation, most of the Pt and Fe were recovered and the recovery percentage of HCl was 95%.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide