Precious metals (Rh, Ru, Pd, Ag, Pt) represent critical components in the construction of new energy materials (e.g., catalysts, batteries, electronics, solar cells) that will remain essential as energy needs continue to increase. While conventional mining remains the current source, an untapped resource for these elements can be found in the fission products of spent 235U fuel rods used in power reactors. Formed in high percentages in the light fission fragment (~100 MW), precious metals are found in greater concentrations in spent nuclear fuel than terrestrial sources. Used in conjunction with recovery of fissile material in reprocessing, selective recovery of precious metal offers a unique venue to harvest these high value materials from the waste stream while reducing the overall long term waste storage. Utilizing the affinity of precious metals for soft donors, novel ligands containing nitrogen and sulfur donors were designed and synthesized. The initial complexation studies were conducted with the 1st generation ligands and rhodium (III). Macroscopic prepared Rh complexes were characterized by standard spectroscopic techniques (NMR, IR, UV-Vis, X-ray) and compared to solution speciation. Complexation reaction formation rates were also determined under pseudo-first kinetics. Preliminary extraction studies were also carried to examine the feasibility of these ligands to transfer rhodium from aqueous phase to the organic phase. Figure 1. <img src='https://acs-archive-assets2.s3.amazonaws.com/iupac/uploads/80864_esquivel_y_valdes_2011.jpg' alt='' />

New ligand designs for recovery of precious metals from spent nuclear fuel

248th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.