ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS FOR DISSOLVING PLATINUM, PLATINUM METALIMPURITIES AND/OR PLATINUM METAL ALLOYS

摘要

The present invention concerns an electrolytical process for dissolving platinum, platinum metal impurities and/or platinum metal alloys, in particular with contents of Rh, Pd, Ir, Au and AG, in aqueous hydrochloric acid. The process according to the invention is characterized in that the dissolution process takes place in a electrolysis cell subdivided by a cation exchanger membrane, if suitable in the presence of platinum metal salts or platinum metal acids, at temperatures between 50 and 110.degree.C, under potentiostatic or voltagecontrolled conditions in the range of 2.5 V to 8 V and under a current density of 0.3 to 7.0 A/dm2. In contrast to the known processes, the process according to the invention operates with minimal requirements in terms of safety technology and apparatus and causes minimal stress to the environment.