PRELIMINARY STUDIES OF PLATINUM DISSOLUTION FROM A SPENT INDUSTRIAL CATALYST

A spent Pt-NiO/Al2O3 industrial catalyst was examined with respect to Pt recovery. Aluminum chloride solutions, with low concentrations of n itric acid as an oxidant, were used instead of ''aqua regia''. The eff ect of aluminum chloride and nitric acid concentrations on the yield o f platinum dissolution was studied. The substitution of hydrochloric a cid by aluminum chloride, with low nitric acid concentration, does not affect the platinum dissolution yield, but minimizes excess reagents consumption.