Contents Platinum

New aluminophosphate oxynitrides solid basic catalysts have been synthesised by activation under ammonia of an AIPO4 precursor. When the nitrogen content increases, XPS points out two types of nitrogen phosphorus bonding. The conversions in Knoevenagel condensation are related to the surface nitrogen content. Platinum supported on aluminophosphate oxynitride is an active catalyst for isobutane dehydrogenation. 

A viable electrocatalyst operating with minimal polarization for the direct electrochemical oxidation of methanol at low temperature would strongly enhance the competitive position of fuel ceU systems for transportation appHcations. Fuel ceUs that directiy oxidize CH OH would eliminate the need for an external reformer in fuel ceU systems resulting in a less complex, more lightweight system occupying less volume and having lower cost. Improvement in the performance of PFFCs for transportation appHcations, which operate close to ambient temperatures and utilize steam-reformed CH OH, would be a more CO-tolerant anode electrocatalyst. Such an electrocatalyst would reduce the need to pretreat the steam-reformed CH OH to lower the CO content in the anode fuel gas. Platinum—mthenium alloys show encouraging performance for the direct oxidation of methanol. 

PGM Concentration. The ore mined from the Merensky Reef in South Africa has a maximum PGM content of 8.1 g/1, of which 50—60% is platinum, and 20—25% palladium. The PGMs are in the form of a ferroplatinum alloy, or as their sulfides, arsenides, or teUurides. The aim of the concentration process is to separate from the ore a cmde metal concentrate, having a PGM content of 60%. The majority of other metals, such as nickel and copper, are separated out at this stage for further refining. 

The next step of the UOP method of CCR regeneration is oxidation and chlorination. In this step, the catalyst is oxidized in air at about 510°C. A sufficient amount of chloride is usually added as an organic chloride, such as trichloroethane, to restore the chloride content and acid function of the catalyst to that of the fresh catalyst. If the platinum crystaUites ate smaller than about 10 nm, sufficient chlorine is present in the gas to completely tedispetse agglomerated platinum on the catalyst, as a result of the Deacon equUibtium ... 

Oxidation and chlorination of the catalyst are then performed to ensure complete carbon removal, restore the catalyst chloride to its proper level, and maintain full platinum dispersion on the catalyst surface. Typically, the catalyst is oxidized in sufficient oxygen at about 510°C for a period of six hours or more. Sufficient chloride is added, usually as an organic chloride, to restore the chloride content and acid function of the catalyst and to provide redispersion of any platinum agglomeration that may have occurred. The catalyst is then reduced to return the metal components to their active form. This reduction is accompHshed by using a flow of electrolytic hydrogen or recycle gas from another Platforming unit at 400 to 480°C for a period of one to two hours. 

Rhodium. Rhodium is the most commonly plated platinum-group metal. In addition to its decorative uses, rhodium has useful properties for engineering appHcations. It has good corrosion resistance, stable electtical contact resistance, wear resistance, heat resistance, and good reflectivity. The use of rhodium for engineering purposes is covered by an ASTM specification (128). Typical formulas are shown in Table 15. The metal content is obtained from prepared solutions available from proptietary plating supply companies. Replenishment is requited because anodes are not soluble. Rhodium for decorative use may be 0.05—0.13 p.m thick for industtial use, it maybe 0.50—5.0 p.m thick. 

It is stated that in time the acidity (up to 2,5 units) of 0,1-1,0 M HMTA aqueous solutions changes maximally at 1°C, in comparatively to other temperatures (11, 16, 21°C). When the temperature arises the change of HMTA aqueous solutions pH values decreases in time. Formaldehyde and ammonium ions (end products of HMTA hydrolysis) have been fixed only in more diluted solutions (0,10 and 0,25M). The concentration of NH in them in some times is higher than H2C=0 concentration that is caused by oxidation of the last one to a formic acid, being accompanied by the change of the system platinum electrode potential. It is stated that concentration NH in solutions does not exceed 5% from HMTA general content. The conclusion the mechanism of HMTA destruction in H,0 to depend essentially on its concentration and temperature has been made. 

Aqueous hydrofluoric acid can be freed from lead by adding ImL of 10% strontium chloride per KXhnL of acid, lead being co-precipitated as lead fluoride with the strontium fluoride. If the hydrofluoric acid is decanted from the precipitate and the process repeated, the final lead content in the acid is less than 0.003 ppm. Similarly, lead can be precipitated from a nearly saturated sodium carbonate solution by adding 10% strontium chloride dropwise (l-2mL per lOOmL) followed by filtration. (If the sodium carbonate is required as a solid, the solution can be evaporated to dryness in a platinum dish.) Removal of lead from potassium chloride uses precipitation as lead sulfide by bubbling H2S, followed, after filtration, by evaporation and recrystallisation of the potassium chloride. 

Alloys with rhodium Rhodium alloys readily with platinum in all proportions, although the workability of the resulting alloy decreases rapidly with increasing rhodium content. Alloys containing up to about 40% rhodium, however, are workable and find numerous applications. The principal physical and mechanical properties of rhodium-platinum alloys are listed in Table 6.3. 

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