Degree: Master of Science
Department: Engineering / The electrochemical recovery of low concentrations ( < 200 1 l mg − ) of palladium and platinum from a selected refinery effluent was investigated.
Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) provided qualitative evidence that palladium and
platinum contained in an effluent with an acid chloride matrix could be deposited on a graphite cathode. Experimental techniques related to (i) the use of synthetic solutions (ii) the variation of potential scan ranges, (iii) the use of a witness ion ( + 3 Fe ), and (iv) the use of glassy carbon or platinum disc working electrodes were used to assist with the interpretation of voltammograms.
Exhaustive electrolysis experiments via a graphite working electrode demonstrated the recovery of palladium and platinum in the refinery effluent to concentrations of < 1 1 l mg − . Copper present in the effluent
was co-deposited with the precious metals.
Exchange current densities ( o j ), electron transfer coefficients ( á),
standard rate constants ( s k ) and mass transfer coefficients ( m k ) were determined for selected reduction-oxidation (redox) couples via a custom made Rotating Disc Electrode (RDE).
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/353 |
| Date | 24 April 2006 |
| Creators | Van Aswegen, Anton |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 2898561 bytes, application/pdf, application/pdf |
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