Selling Rhodium

[michelemalatesta]

I refined some metal catalyst that I had and I have about 72 grams of what I believe to be rhodium. I bought steves video and processed them accordingly and attatched is what would not go into aqua regia solution. Can anyone suggest where I can have it tested or assayed or even who may be interested in buying it. I called a couple refineries and they told me to send it in to them but i am hesitant after they told me that there is only 1 to 2 grams of pgms per catylatic converter and that there are probably alot of base metals. That was after telling them the process that I used. I used muriatic acid on the metal catlylists, I then rinsed what was left and then I proceeded with the aqua regia. I used the amonium chloride to drop the platinum and then sodium chlorate for the palledium . I then took what would not go into hot aqua regia and started another batch. This is what I have left. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

[lazersteve]

The substance in the filters looks too brown to be Rh. Don't get me wrong, some may be, but not all of it.

If you used powdered zinc like I did in the video, you likely introduced insoluble Cab-O-Sil (SiO2 = Sand) in the reaction. After making the video I found this out and started using pure zinc turnings (sold on my website). Also if you processed crushed material there may be lots of alumina in the filter.

First perform the standard Rh test yourself using boiling concentrated sulfuric acid. I've posted photos of a positive result elsewhere on the forum.

If your initial tests are positive, you can proceed to a bisulfate fusion to determine how much Rh you may be looking at.

Good luck,

Steve

 

[michelemalatesta]

Ok Steve, I will do that...Thank you...I bought my zinc from you.

 

[lazersteve]

Was your honeycomb crushed?

Steve

 

[michelemalatesta]

no, these were metal catylists

 

[michelemalatesta]

I got about 10 grams of platinum and they didn't have any palledium, although I didn't check the muriatic acid yet. I first put them in muriatic acid and they bubbled like crazy. The palledium may be in there. I then went on to the aqua regia.

 

[Lou]

I may be interested in buying it, or at least seeing a sample.

 

[Platdigger]

How many metal catylists did you proccess?

 

[Oz]

If your initial tests are positive, you can proceed to a bisulfate fusion to determine how much Rh you may be looking at

I would not take a bi-sulfate fusion as quantitative (personally) for Rh content. Based on several sources that I deem reliable a bi-sulfate fusion done at 500C for 2 hours will put approximately 75% of an elemental Rh into a water soluble state. The balance of the fusion must be dissolved to recover the remaining elemental Rh that can be put into the next fusion.

To reiterate, I have not personally tested this. I would enjoy hearing what Steve has done with fusions and his percentage of recovery from sponge as he tends to be meticulous in his inputs versus his yields.

 

[michelemalatesta]

Hi Lou,

Im going to test it with hot sulfuric today and I will let you know the results. How many grams would I need to send you?

 

[michelemalatesta]

I boiled it in sulfuric acid for about a half an hour and this is what I have. It is really dark but i dont see a redish tint to it. Im also going to attach another picture of it all dried out. Lou, would you be interested in taking a look at it. What would you charge?

 

[michelemalatesta]

Here are pictures of it in the sulfuric

 

[lazersteve]

Now you can dilute a sample of the solution and perform the hot stannous chloride test.

Another indicator is to dilute a small sample of the sulfate and neutralize with ammonium hydroxide. A yellow precipitate means you may be looking at Rh.

I'm certain Lou will be able to provide you a final confirmation of the material.

Steve

 

[Lou]

It does not look like any rhodium sponge I've ever seen.

The black color in your solution may be from organics being turned to carbon by the sulfuric acid.

Take a few milligrams of the powder and heat it in an alumina or silica crucible with sodium bisulfate--if it is rhodium, you will see a rose-red color to it. Alternatively, fuse it with table salt and add to water---a deep red color is Na3RhCl6.

 

[stacker99]

Good day to you all,

Am a newbie here and stuble upon this old thread as I'm looking for selling my recovered Rhodium.
My Rhodium is recovered from Rhodium plated costume jewelleries using AP and the Rhodium plating drop out as flakes.
Have took a pinch of it and send for EDX and confirms the item is real Rhodium.

Any advise on how could I sell it? Preferrably an buyer who accept international seller as I'm located in asia.

I have about 10 grm for now and processing bigger batch to get more and would like to get a steady source for selling them for now and future.
Hope to fetch a good pricing too.

Appreciate all the advise & opinion given.