Separation of the non-volatile noble metals by reversed-phase extraction chromatography.

The procedure involves the use of tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) adsorbed by Porasil C and stepwise elution with sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid. The distribution coefficients for the two systems (TBP and hydrochloric acid and TBP and sulphuric acid) and the elution characteristics were studied. A description is given of a procedure applicable to the analysis of prills obtained from the fire assay of platinum-bearing ores.