Patent ID: 8168069

Claim:
An enrichment process for a stream containing platinum group metals, comprising: contacting, on a continuous basis, a batch of activated carbon particles with a platinum group metal-containing stream, wherein the activated carbon particles are amine treated activated carbon particles, whereby at least a portion of the platinum group metal is adsorbed from the platinum group metal-containing stream onto active surface sites of the activated carbon particles so as to generate a platinum group metal-depleted stream; passing the platinum group metal-depleted stream out of contact with the batch of activated carbon particles with adsorbed platinum group metal; contacting, on a continuous basis, the batch of activated carbon particles with adsorbed platinum group metal to a concentrated HCl solution stripping agent, whereby a platinum group metal-loaded stripping agent is generated; removing the platinum group metal-loaded stripping agent from contact with the batch of activated carbon particles from which the platinum group metal has been stripped; and regenerating the activated carbon particles from which the platinum group metal has been stripped by washing with water.