Results from Electrochemical Leach Experiments under the DOE Technical Assistant Program
The activities described in this (report) are related to the analysis and testing of graphite and mine tailing samples provided by the Recipient for the extraction and recovery of embedded metals. This report focused on recovery of platinum group metals (PGMs), which appear in relatively high abundance, particularly technically important elements ruthenium and rhodium. Work performed involved assessment of materials followed by extraction tests using two methods. A novel electrochemically-driven route was compared to a chemical route for extraction of the metals. The electrochemically driven route showed similar results while producing the lixiviant in the electrochemical cell, hence reducing chemical requirements.