Patent ID: 7479262

Claim:
A separation process for platinum group elements comprising: (A) treating a material comprising selenium and/or tellurium, and platinum group elements, with alkali, (B) leaching the selenium and/or tellurium, and (C) separating a leaching residue comprising the platinum group elements and a selenium and/or tellurium leachate, wherein in (A), a flux comprising a mixture of caustic soda and sodium nitrate is added to said material comprising the selenium and/or the tellurium, and the platinum group elements, to form a mixture, and the resulting mixture is melted by heating to a temperature ranging from 350°C. to 450°C., in (B) the leaching of the selenium and/or the tellurium is conducted by leaching the selenium and/or the telerium from the melt with water, thereby forming a liquid fraction and a residue, and in (C) the separating comprises the liquid fraction comprising sodium selenite, and the residue comprising the platinum group elements.