Recovery of platinum group metals using magnetic nanoparticles modified with ionic liquids

The development of a principally new approach to preparation of IL-modified magnetic nanoparticles and their application as sorbent materials for recovery of platinum group metals from model technological solutions are described. The formation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, their simultaneous coating with a polymer shell and an ionic liquid are implemented in aqueous biphasic systems by a single step synthesis. Different ionic liquids have been tested as modifying agents: Cyphos (R) IL 101, Cyphos (R) IL 110, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate. The prepared magnetic nanoparticles have been characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and applied as sorbents for magnetic solidphase extraction of platinum metals from chloride solutions. The results indicate that the recovery of the platinum metals from (0.1 M HCl+ 1 M NaCl) solution is 99% for Pd(II) and 98% for Pt(IV) within 30 min and their quantitative stripping can be achieved using 2 M HNO3 solution.