THE SEPARATION OF GOLD BY SELECTIVE EXTRACTION OF HAUBR4 USING A POLY(TETRAMETHYLENE) ETHER GLYCOL IMPREGNATED FILTER

The separation of gold(III) by selective extraction on an organic-impr egnated filter (OIF) was studied. Gold was found to be rapidly extract ed into the active polytetramethylene ether glycol (polyTHF) layer of the filter from strongly acidic solutions of HBr, as the HAuBr4 comple x. Quantitative extraction of gold from solution was obtained with flo w rates up to 600 ml min(-1) through the 10.75 cm(2) OIF and at ng ml( -1) concentration levels. The extraction is shown to be dependent on t he solution flow rate and HBr concentration as well as the filter pore size, thickness and porosity. Gold can be eluted from the filter by c onverting it into the AuBr4- complex using a KBr solution. The separat ion of gold is demonstrated from simple binary metal mixtures involvin g iron and cadmium, as well as from a more complicated matrix, gold or e solution. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.