A method of refining platinum group metal

Abstract

A method of refining a platinum group metal (PGM) containing material by smelting the PGM containing material in a furnace with a flue, capturing flue dust passing through the flue, leaching base metal from the captured flue dust using sulphuric acid to form a solid residue, separating the solid residue from the sulphuric acid and recovering PGM from the solid residue. The base metal can be As, Bi, Te, Se, Zn, Cd, Cu, Na, Ni and or Fe. Chlorine can also be leached from the flue dust. A flocculant can be used so aid separation of the residue from the sulphuric acid. Fig. 1