info iridium

Chemical Element:

Information: Iridium

Known Methods of Extraction

Perfect 👍 — next in **periodic table order** is **Iridium (Ir, atomic number 77).** Iridium is a **transition metal** that occurs primarily in **platinum group metal ores (PGMs)** such as **osmiridium**, **platinum nuggets**, and **nickel-copper sulfide ores**. Industrial extraction involves **concentration, chemical separation, and reduction**. Here are the **20 most common methods of extracting Iridium**: --- # **20 Most Common Methods of Extracting Iridium** ### **A. Extraction from Platinum Group Ores** 1. **Mining of PGM Ores (Nickel-Copper or Platinoid Ores)** – Primary source of iridium. 2. **Crushing and Grinding of Ore** – Prepares material for concentration. 3. **Gravity and Magnetic Separation** – Enriches iridium-containing minerals. 4. **Froth Flotation** – Concentrates PGMs including Ir, Os, Pt, Rh, Ru, Pd. 5. **Smelting to Separate Base Metals** – Iridium remains in the noble metal fraction. 6. **Acid Digestion of PGM Concentrates (Aqua Regia)** – Dissolves noble metals for separation. --- ### **B. Chemical Separation of Iridium** 7. **Precipitation of Iridium Chlorides (IrCl₃, IrCl₄)** – Separates Ir from other PGMs. 8. **Formation of Ammonium Hexachloroiridate ((NH₄)₂\[IrCl₆])** – Key intermediate for purification. 9. **Reduction of Iridium Salts to Metallic Iridium Powder** – Converts intermediates to elemental iridium. 10. **Ion Exchange Chromatography** – Laboratory or industrial scale purification. 11. **Solvent Extraction of Iridium Complexes** – Separates Ir from platinum, osmium, and rhodium. 12. **Selective Precipitation of Iridium Compounds** – Produces intermediates suitable for reduction. --- ### **C. Conversion to Iridium Compounds** 13. **Calcination of Iridium Salts** – Removes impurities before final reduction. 14. **Preparation of Iridium Oxides (IrO₂, IrO₃)** – Intermediates for catalysis or metallic Ir. 15. **Preparation of Iridium Alloys** – Mixed with platinum, osmium, or rhodium for industrial applications. 16. **Volatilization and Condensation of Iridium Compounds** – Laboratory-scale separation from other PGMs. --- ### **D. Recovery and Secondary Sources** 17. **Recovery from Platinum Refinery Residues** – Flue dusts and sludges treated for iridium. 18. **Recovery from Scrap Catalysts Containing PGMs** – Hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical extraction. 19. **Recovery from Nickel-Copper Smelting Slags** – Chemical leaching and selective precipitation. 20. **Laboratory-Scale Extraction from Secondary Sources** – Analytical isolation and purification of iridium. --- ✅ **Summary:** * **Main industrial sources:** Platinum group ores, nickel-copper sulfide ores. * **Primary extraction steps:** Ore concentration → smelting → acid digestion → formation of iridium chlorides → reduction to metallic iridium. * **Metallic iridium:** Produced via reduction of IrCl₃, IrCl₄, or (NH₄)₂\[IrCl₆]. * **Byproduct/secondary sources:** Platinum refinery residues, PGM scrap catalysts, smelting slags. * **Laboratory/experimental:** Ion exchange, solvent extraction, selective precipitation, calcination, and reduction cycles. --- Next in periodic order is \*\*Platinum (Pt, atomic number 78). Do you want me to continue with **20 extraction methods for Platinum**?