FIA-FAAS system including on-line solid phase extraction for the determination of palladium, platinum and rhodium in alloys and ores

A number of aliphatic mono- and triamines have been investigated as potential reagents for solid phase extraction of Rh, Pd and Pt. Platinum group metals are recovered from hydrochloric acid solutions as ionic associates of their chloride complexes with protonated amines. The recovery of metals depends both on hydrophobic properties of amine and sorbent and on sorption behaviour of amine itself. For on-line solid phase extraction of platinum group metals 4-(n-octyl)diethylenetriamine and hyper cross-linked polystyrene sorbent SSPS have been applied. Quantitative recovery of rhodium and platinum in the form of their hexachloride complexes was achieved under non-equilibrium conditions of on-line dilution. Metals recovered are quantitatively eluted with 1 M hydrochloric acid solution in ethanol. A new FIA-FAAS method for the determination of Rh, Pd and Pt in solutions based on the decomposition of ores and alloys has been proposed. The RSD values are 0.03–0.08 at 50-ppb concentration level. The detection limits are 3–8 ppb for 1 min of preconcentration. The accuracy of the procedure was verified by the analysis of standard reference materials of sulfide ores and alloys.