Platinum and Rhenium recovery from the spent aromatization catalyst using Ion Exchange method and optimizing the operational parameters

Recovery of the nobel metals, platinum and rhenium, from a spent aromatization catalyst of naphta is reported, using ion exchange method by anion exchange resin.The catalyst is soluted in a mixture of some acids and the produced solution is passed through a column which contain the ion exchange resin. The platinum and rhenium that exist in the solution are absorbed by the resin, then the resin is washed by means of a suitable acid. platinum and rhenium thus leave the resin and come into solution again. Various parameters which affect the process of elution and absorption are also studied and the optimum conditions for maximum recovery are determined. The efficiency is 100 % in the absorption process and over 95 % in the disorption process.