In the family of precious metals, platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) are like “twin brothers.” Both belong to the platinum group metals (PGMs), exhibit a similar silvery-white luster, and are commonly used in jewelry as well as high-end industrial applications. However, their physicochemical properties, market values, and recovery processes differ significantly.

With resources becoming increasingly scarce, recovering these two metals from spent catalysts, electronic waste, and old jewelry has become a key approach to “urban mining.” As a specialized supplier of liquid–liquid extraction equipment, Zhengzhou Tiei Extraction guides you on how to utilize the CWL-M series centrifugal extractor to achieve efficient and clean recovery of these valuable metals.

Hydrometallurgy: The Mainstream Route for Platinum Group Metal Recovery

For the recovery of platinum and palladium, the industry predominantly adopts hydrometallurgical processes. This involves leaching metals from solids using chemical solvents, followed by solvent extraction to achieve the separation and enrichment of the metal ions.

Traditional extraction processes typically rely on mixer settlers or extraction columns, but these equipment have several drawbacks: they occupy large footprint, offer low stage efficiency, cause significant solvent entrainment, and require long residence times, which can lead to emulsification and solvent degradation. These limitations make it difficult to meet the modern demands for green and high-efficiency recovery.

CWL-M Centrifugal Extractor

To meet the stringent requirements of high recovery rate, high purity, and low loss in the recovery of precious metals such as platinum and palladium, Zhengzhou Tiei Extraction has developed the CWL-M series centrifugal extractor. Leveraging its unique technological advantages, it has become an ideal choice for the solvent extraction stage in hydrometallurgy.

Process Flow for Platinum and Palladium Recycling

The recovery of platinum and palladium using the CWL-M centrifugal extractor typically involves the following key steps:

1.Pretreatment and Leaching
Waste catalysts, old jewelry, or electronic scrap are roasted and crushed, then leached using aqua regia or hydrochloric acid + oxidizing agents. This process converts platinum, palladium, and other precious metals into chloro-complex anions in the liquid phase.
2.Extraction and Separation
The leachate and extractant are fed into the CWL-M centrifugal extractor in a controlled ratio. Under the action of high centrifugal force, the two phases are rapidly mixed and undergo mass transfer, then quickly separated by density difference. Platinum or palladium is selectively extracted into the organic phase, while impurities such as copper, iron, and nickel remain in the aqueous phase and are removed.
3.Washing and Stripping
The loaded organic phase enters the washing stage to remove remaining impurities. Platinum or palladium is then stripped into the aqueous phase using a stripping agent, yielding a high-concentration precious metal solution.
4.Refining and Reduction
Finally, through chemical reduction, electrolysis, or calcination, high-purity platinum or palladium powder is obtained.

Core Advantages of the CWL-M Centrifugal Extractor

In the recovery of platinum and palladium, the efficiency and stability of the extraction stage directly determine the purity and recovery rate of the final product. The CWL-M series centrifugal extractor excels in the following areas:

1.Short Stage Residence Time, Minimizing Solvent Degradation
Precious metal extractants are expensive and prone to degradation when exposed to strong acids or oxidative environments for extended periods. The CWL-M centrifugal extractor uses high-speed centrifugal force to achieve mass transfer and phase separation, with extremely short contact times—typically just a few seconds. This significantly reduces the exposure of the extractant to acidic media, minimizing solvent loss and saving on solvent regeneration costs.

2.Rapid Phase Separation with Minimal Entrapment
Traditional mixer settlers often generate emulsion layers, causing metal loss due to phase entrainment (organic phase carrying water or vice versa). The centrifugal extractor leverages powerful centrifugal forces for separation, producing a clear phase interface with minimal entrainment, ensuring that precious platinum and palladium ions are retained, thereby greatly improving recovery rates.

3.High Extraction Efficiency with Flexible Multistage Countercurrent Configuration
Given the characteristics of platinum-group metal extraction specifically the high extraction ratios and stringent separation factor requirements, the CWL-M centrifugal extractor can easily facilitate multi-stage series operation (in either counter-current or co-current configurations). By precisely controlling flow rates and rotational speed, it can achieve high theoretical extraction stages within a compact footprint, ensuring complete metal extraction and reducing residual metal content in the raffinate to extremely low levels.

4.Reduced Capital and Operating Costs
The CWL-M centrifugal extractor features a compact design, occupying only 1/5 to 1/10 of the floor space of traditional mixer settlers. Its fully enclosed design prevents organic solvent evaporation and precious metal solution leakage, improving the operating environment and reducing waste gas treatment costs. Additionally, the equipment is highly automated, easy to maintain, and significantly reduces labor costs.

With resources becoming increasingly scarce, efficient recovery of platinum group metals from secondary sources is not only an environmental necessity but also an economically rational choice. Zhengzhou Tiei Extraction Technology Co., Ltd., with years of expertise in liquid–liquid extraction, has developed the CWL-M series centrifugal extractor, which is widely applied in precious metal hydrometallurgy, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries due to its high efficiency, stability, and low consumables loss.

If you are looking for a solution to increase platinum and palladium recovery rates while reducing operational costs, please contact us. We provide customized process solutions and equipment support tailored to your needs.
Email: sales@tieiextraction.com
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