PROCESS FOR SEPARATING NOBLE METALS FROM A CO-, NI- AND/OR CU-BASED METAL ALLOY

摘要

The present invention provides a process for separating noble metals from a Co-, Ni- and/or Cu-based metal alloy, comprising the steps of: a. providing alloy particles comprising (i) Co, Ni and/or Cu, and (ii) at least one noble metal; b. reacting Co, Ni and/or Cu in said alloy particles with an oxidizing agent in an acidic aqueous solution, thereby obtaining (i) a Co-, Ni- and/or Cu-rich leach solution, and (ii) a noble metal-rich residue having a reduced Co-, Ni- and/or Cu-content; and c. separating said Co-, Ni- and/or Cu-rich leach solution from said noble metal-rich residue; characterized in that said oxidizing agent comprises ferric iron, whereby said ferric iron is provided in a stoichiometric excess relative to the total amount of Co, Ni and Cu in said alloy particles.