Researchers from the University of Silesia, the Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals in Gliwice and the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznań have developed a new method of palladium recovery from used catalysts.

Researchers from three centers have developed an effective and cost-effective method of recovery of palladium from old catalysts by separating the element from the post reaction mixture by sorption with silica gel subsequently treated with sulfuric, nitric and hydrochloric acids, thereby recovering the palladium in the form of tetrachlalladecane, finally transformed into palladium dichloride – the most convenient raw material for the synthesis of homogeneous catalysts.

Thanks to the solution, which has been patented, it will be possible to reuse the recovered metal for the production of new catalysts, which will reduce the costs of their production and will be less burdensome for the natural environment.