Computer simulations of a chromatographic column used in the separation of platinum group metal chlorinated complexes
Master Thesis
2012
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University of Cape Town
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The PGMs, which are comprised of Ru, Pt, Rh, Ir, Os and Pd, are highly regarded as technologically important precious metals. They have a wide range of applications and are used predominantly as catalysts. These metals are found collectively in nature and hence have similar chemical properties. This makes their separation from contaminants and each other a cumbersome process that requires the most technologically sophisticated refinery processes in metallurgical extraction. An efficient method in which these metal complexes are separated is based on gel chromatography. This uses a concentrated aqueous acidic medium, predominantly hydrochloric acid, and their separation is achieved through differentiation of their different elution orders. However, the similarity in their chemistry makes their separation via current experimental methods difficult.
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Michael, N. 2012. Computer simulations of a chromatographic column used in the separation of platinum group metal chlorinated complexes. University of Cape Town.