Separation Of Metals Research Articles

The effects of the separator structures and magnetic roller arrangements on eddy current separation

The eddy current separator is the key equipment used for the separation and enrichment of non-ferrous metals from the solid waste. The customization and universality requirements for eddy current separators have been improved with the increasingly strict environmental protection requirements in various industries and the pursuit of higher economic benefits by enterprises. The low separation efficiency of the small-sized non-ferrous metals and the difficulty in separating between non-ferrous metals are two urgent problems that limit the development of the eddy current separation. The separator structures design, the factors regulation and the core component magnetic roller optimization are the keys to solve problems. Vertical and horizontal eddy current separators are the two main types of permanent magnet eddy current separators in practical applications and reported studies. However, the study and production cost of the eddy current separator are high, and there are few reports on the separator structures in existing studies. There is also a lack of comparative analysis of different applicable conditions for eddy current separators and optimization design of the magnetic roller. This study compared and analyzed the effects of different factors on the vertical and horizontal eddy current separation efficiency, and clarified the advantages and prospects of the vertical eddy current separator in optimizing the separation efficiency between non-ferrous metals. The comparison and multi-objective optimization were conducted on the magnetic rollers to expand the particle size range that can be separated. The separation performance and the economy of the magnetic roller have been improved significantly, and the performance indicators are better than those of existing equipment with the same specifications. The magnetic roller with specific structural parameters has increased eddy current force and magnetic efficiency density by 75.0% and 63.5%, respectively. It is expected to further expand the applicable materials for the eddy current separator.

Extraction of phosphorus from sewage sludge ash by electrodialysis combined with wet-chemical extraction

ABSTRACT Phosphorus (P) recovery from sewage sludge ash (SSA) is considered to be an effective method for P recovery. In this work, P extraction and the removal of heavy metals were realized by electrodialysis. Low-cost, easily available, and environmentally friendly plant extracts were applied as suspension to reduce the inevitable secondary pollution. And the feasibility of using plant extracts was analysed by comparing with using deionized water (DI) and oxalic acid (OA) solution. When SSA was suspended in different solutions (DI, OA, and three plant extracts – Hovenia acerba (HA), Saponin (SA) and Portulaca oleracea (PO)), the effects of reaction time and plant extract concentration on P extraction and heavy metal separation of SSA under ED treatment were compared. After the process of electrodialysis, compared to other experimental groups, electrodialysis with plant extracts obtained more P released from SSA, but less P migrated to the anode chamber. However, when SSA was suspended in PO at a concentration of 80 g/L, the proportion of P transferred from SSA to the anode chamber can still reached 37.86%. In addition, the use of plant extracts as suspension had a positive effect on the removal of heavy metals, but its effect was lower than that of the oxalic acid-treated experimental group. The results indicated that the use of plant extracts for wet-chemical extraction combined with electrodialysis promoted the removal of heavy metals and the extraction of P from SSA, which is a feasible option.

Comprehensive recovery of arsenic and valuable metals from lead smelting flue dust: Process optimization and mechanism investigation

The comprehensive recovery of arsenic and valuable metals from lead smelting flue dust have received widespread attention due to its extremely high toxicity and economic value. In this research, a clean process which consisted of pressure oxidation leaching, preferential separation of Zn and Cd, reduction of As(Ⅴ) and recovery of indium was proposed. Thermodynamic calculation of leaching process suggested that the increasing of temperature reduces the redox potential required for the oxidation of As3+ to As5+, and the optimal conditions were found to be at acid concentration of 100 g/L, oxygen pressure of 2.0 MPa, temperature of 170 °C, L/S of 10 mL/g, leaching time of 2.5 h and agitating speed of 500 r/min. Under the selected conditions, the leaching extents of As, Cd, In, Sb and Zn are 99.17 %, 98.96 %, 92.68 %, 40.23 % and 96.63 %, respectively, while lead remained in the leaching residue. The separation of arsenic and other valuable metals in leachate is the most difficult and critical section of the process, where As2S3 was particularly added to the acid solution in certain manner to preferentially precipitate Zn and Cd in the forms of ZnS and CdS, subsequently reduce As(Ⅴ) to As(Ⅲ). Experiments by adding arsenic filter cake furtherly confirmed the reducibility of As2S3 and realized simultaneous extraction of arsenic in arsenic cake and acid leaching solution. Eventually, arsenic was recovered as As2O3 with a high purity of 98.56 % and the total extraction extent of indium is 93.76 %.

New two-dimensional membranes based on hexagonal graphene nanodots for the separation of seawater trace metals: a first-principles study

New two-dimensional membranes based on hexagonal graphene nanodots for the separation of seawater trace metals: a first-principles study

Dielectric properties of water: a molecular dynamics study on the effects of molecule count and cutoff radius.

Currently, the study of systems confined within various materials, such as graphene and graphene oxide, for diverse applications such as water desalination, metal separation from water, battery cells, and high-efficiency capacitors, is very common. Among these systems, water is a prominent subject of investigation. Understanding the impact of the number of molecules and the optimal cutoff radius is essential in order to determine the parameters. This study investigates the dielectric properties of H O in relation to both the number of molecules and the cutoff radius within the simulation cell. We employ the flexible FBA/ water model, known for its improved accuracy in reproducing water's properties across various thermodynamic states. We range from 60 to 1372 molecules and use cutoff radius from 6 to 1.2 nm, encompassing a wide range of calculations to assess their impact on the simulation results, including critical properties like the dielectric constant, density, and phase change enthalpy. Computational theoretical calculations were performed by solving the equations of motion through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in the liquid phase. These simulations were conducted using the isothermal-isobaric (NPT) ensemble. The primary software used to solve these equations is GROMACS, and own programs for creating the initial cell and performing the analysis.

Thorium Complexation with Aliphatic and Aromatic Hydroxycarboxylates: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study.

Hydroxycarboxylic acids, viz., α-hydroxyisobutyric acid (HIBA) and mandelic acid (MA), have been widely employed as eluents for inner transition metal separation studies. Both extractants have identical functional groups (OH and COOH) with different side-chains. Despite their similarities in binding motifs, they show different retention behaviors for thorium and uranium in liquid chromatography. To understand the mechanism behind the trend, a detailed study on the aqueous phase interaction of thorium with both extractants is carried out by speciation, spectroscopy, and density functional theory-based calculations. Potentiometric titration experiments are carried out to reveal the stability and species formed. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry is performed to identify the formation of different species by Th with both HIBA and MA. It is seen that for Th-HIBA and Th-MA, the dominating species are ML3 and ML4, respectively. A similar pattern observed in potentiometric speciation analysis supports the tendency of Th to form higher stoichiometric species with MA than with HIBA. The difference in the dominating species thus helps in explaining the reversal in the retention behavior of uranium and thorium in the reverse-phase liquid chromatographic separation. The results obtained are corroborated with extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopic measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Significant Enhancement of Xe Adsorption and Xe/Kr Separation of Metal–Organic Framework Induced by Pore Channel Shaping and Pore Polarity Engineering

Significant Enhancement of Xe Adsorption and Xe/Kr Separation of Metal–Organic Framework Induced by Pore Channel Shaping and Pore Polarity Engineering

On the Problem of the Distillation Separation of Secondary Alloys of Magnesium with Zinc and Magnesium with Cadmium

An alternative to the existing method of processing secondary magnesium raw materials by remelting in a salt furnace can be distillation separation into volatile metals (Mg, Zn and Cd), low-volatile metals (Al, Mn and Zr) and rare earth elements. The separation of metals may be tracked based on phase diagrams where the field boundaries of the vapor–liquid equilibrium are plotted. Due to the fact that Mg, Zn and Cd have comparable saturated vapor pressures, the possibility of the distillation separation of Mg–Zn and Mg–Cd systems using full state diagrams including the melt–vapor phase transition boundaries were determined in this work. The boundaries of these systems were calculated based on the partial values of saturated vapor, determined by the boiling point method, and presented in the form of temperature–concentration dependencies with the indicated boundaries. The field boundaries were calculated (L + V) at atmospheric pressure (101.33 kPa) and in vacuum (1.33 kPa and 0.7 kPa,) supposing the implementation of the process. The possibility of the separate extraction of zinc and cadmium from magnesium was considered using complete phase diagrams including the boundaries of the melt–steam phase transition. When considering the boundaries of the vapor–liquid equilibrium in the binary systems Mg–Zn and Mg–Cd, it was established that it is impossible to separate metals in one “evaporation–condensation” cycle in a vacuum of 1.33 and 0.7 kPa. The problem is caused by the small size of the fields (L + V) at the temperature, which suggests processes of the re-evaporation of the condensate from the previous distillation stage. The separation of zinc and cadmium from liquid alloys with magnesium under equilibrium conditions requires several repetitions of the condensate distillation process. In non-equilibrium conditions, the real processes will require a larger number of conversions. This implies the expediency of the joint evaporation of magnesium with zinc and cadmium and the use of condensate for additional charging to liquid magnesium, and the remainder of the distillation, where volatile metals such as Al, Mn, Zr and rare earth elements will be concentrated, should be directed to the preparation of ligatures for special magnesium-based alloys.

Kinetics and Thermodynamics Study of Ammonia Leaching on Spent LMR-NMC Battery Cathodes

The recycling of spent lithium NMC-type batteries, widely used in electric vehicles, presents a challenge due to manganese content, which complicates metal separation and purification. This study explored a selective leaching process using ammonia to recover metals from high-manganese-content LMR-NMC cathodes. By adjusting the (NH4)2SO4 reagent concentration to 1–2 M and maintaining the temperature between 50–80 °C, the recovery rates of lithium, nickel and cobalt metals were enhanced, leaving manganese primarily as residue in the form of Mn(OH)₂ and (NH4)2Mn(SO4)2. A kinetics model, integrating an equilibrium-shrinking core model with a modified temperature-dependent Arrhenius approach, accurately simulates the metal recovery. The activation energies of the forward leaching reactions of Li, Ni, and Co were respectively (1.4331±0.0036)×105, (1.5494±0.0034)×105, and (1.5743±0.0040)×105 J/mol, while those for the backward reactions were (5.3307±0.0041)×105, (2.4753±0.0093)×105, and (1.6289±0.0092)×105 J/mol, respectively. The leaching mechanism was found to be exothermic, which allows maximum recovery at low temperatures. The findings highlight ammonia’s effectiveness as a selective leachant, significantly reducing manganese in the leaching solution, and streamlining nickel and cobalt separation, thus enhancing the recycling process’s efficiency and sustainability.

Selective separation and recovery of valuable metals through directional vulcanization of black copper sludge

The recovery of copper (Cu) from secondary sources has emerged as a promising trend in the copper industry’s advancement. Black copper sludge (BCS), a valuable hazardous waste produced during Cu electrolytic refining, contains various precious metals, including Cu3As. This study investigates theoretical and experimental aspects using BCS as a raw material to mitigate solid waste emissions and retrieve valuable metals. The proposed method for separating Cu from As through directional sulfidation offers an environmentally friendly solution. Gibbs free energies of the sulfidation reaction between BCS and S were calculated using HSC Chemistry 9.0, with experimental validation confirming the method’s feasibility. The study explores the effects of vulcanization temperature, holding time, and S content during the vulcanization reaction. Under optimal conditions of 873 K temperature, 60 min holding time, and 20 % excess S, Cu existed as Cu2S in the sulfide residue, while As2O3 was observed as a condensate. Cu and As recovery rates were 98.38 % and 84.62 % respectively, with a 99.98 % removal efficiency for Cu volatiles and 94.36 % for As residue. This method effectively separates Cu and As from solid wastes containing As, offering a simpler and more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods. The study presents a novel, eco-friendly, and highly efficient approach for the safe disposal of As-containing solid waste.

Process optimization and mechanism for the selective extraction of copper(ii) from polymetallic acidic solutions using a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) with Mextral®5640H as the carrier.

This study introduces a novel approach by integrating solvent extraction and polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) separation technologies to engineer an innovative PIM membrane material for the selective separation and enrichment of strategic metals, particularly copper, from polymetallic acidic solutions. The primary objectives were to streamline the technological process, reduce production costs, and enhance separation coefficients between copper and other metals. The optimal extraction conditions were determined as a mass fraction of Mextral®5640H : PVC : NPOE = 3 : 3 : 4, extraction temperature of 35 °C, and 0.9 mol L-1 H2SO4 in the stripping solution. Under these conditions, we achieved remarkable extraction efficiencies, with copper reaching 100%, and the separation coefficients between Cu2+ and Ni2+, Co2+, and Zn2+ exceeding 106. To elucidate the substantial differences in extraction performance between Cu2+ and the other metals (Ni2+, Co2+, and Zn2+), we employed an integrative analytical approach that combines FT-IR spectroscopy, BET analysis, and theoretical calculations. All extracted complexes demonstrated molecular sizes compatible with PIMs, underscoring the critical role of stability and back-extraction performance in the selective extraction of these metal ions.

Selective extraction of molybdenum from an industrial powdery tungsten-molybdenum mixture scraps through ultrasonic-assisted electrochemical dissolution mechanism

Extraction and recovery of W and Mo from waste scraps hold significant importance for sustainable resource utilization and environmental protection. Ultrasonic-assisted leaching was demonstrated to be a clean and efficient method for metal dissolution and separation, and the research emphasis of this work was focused on ultrasonic electrochemical behaviors. The HNO3 leaching behaviors of W and Mo under conventional and ultrasonic-assisted processes from powdery W-Mo mixture scraps generated in the powder metallurgy process were investigated. It’s demonstrated that Mo and W can be selectively separated by the regulation of lixiviant concentration and temperature, in which the Mo is converted into the soluble ions (MoO22+) while the W particle is kept in original metallic state and covered with insoluble WO3·H2O. Experiment results indicated that 96.38 % Mo and 8.03 % W were rapidly leached in 2 mol/L HNO3 within ultrasonic-assisted leaching for 10 min at 25 °C, showing a favorable pre-separation effect. Phase transformation and microstructure evolution of the leaching residues under conventional and ultrasonic-assisted leaching processes were analyzed. It’s suggested that Mo can precipitate in the form of molybdenum oxide hydrates, covering the unreacted particle surfaces and further hindering the Mo leaching, especially at higher temperature. This unfavorable situation can be relieved by the introduction of ultrasonic cavitation effect. Importantly, the electrochemical dissolution behaviors of pure W, pure Mo, and W-Mo alloy sheets in HNO3 solution were compared employing the potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy testing to reveal the ultrasonic intensifying mechanism in this study. Eventually, the ultrasonic electrochemical intensifying mechanism can be referential for the efficient dissolution of metal-based scraps for resource recycling.

A lab experiment on metals separation and recovery from waste ink-jet cartridges as a non-formal appealing learning activity for students of secondary schools

Abstract Since 2004, the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), the Conference of Science and Technology Headmasters, and Confindustria, have been promoting the National Plan for Scientific Degrees (PLS) aimed at supporting students in acquiring scientific skills better responding to contemporary society challenges and increasing vocations in basic sciences. This paper describes a successful experience of the University of Cagliari together with selected local secondary schools, in which the hot topic of technological waste valorization was selected to create an orientation laboratory for students towards chemistry disciplines. Specifically, students and teachers were guided into the challenging world of e-waste production and treatment through the practical activity of noble metals recovery from real waste ink-jet cartridges. A specific emphasis was placed on fundamental chemical aspects – separation and recovery of metals driven by redox processes favored by a complexing agent – as well as on the chance to play on coordination chemistry to promote a green chemistry approach. The close collaboration between school and university teachers in planning and implementing laboratory activities is the element that characterizes PLS actions and promotes the development and strengthening of relations between secondary school and university courses in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Surface functionalized biochar for the effective capacitive deionization of lead ions

Biochar has emerged as a promising alternative to activated carbon for capacitive deionization (CDI) due to its special architecture and functionalities. However, the selective purification of trace toxic ions is always limited by the number of specific functionalities. Herein, a thiosemicarbazide-modified biochar (BC-S) was developed for removing trace Pb2+ from water. The cotton stalk derived biochar (BC) is prepared by one-step activation with CO2, which has a high mesoporous ratio and is favorable for ion transport. It was then chemically modified with thiosemicarbazide to add additional Pb2+ adsorption sites. BC as anode and BC-S as cathode formed an asymmetric device for testing, and it exhibited a Pb2+ adsorption capacity of 68.5 mg g−1, much higher than that of the symmetric BC electrode (15.9 mg g−1). More importantly, BC-S still performs excellent Pb2+ selectivity in the presence of various cations such as Ca2+ and Mg2+. The ex-situ XPS and SEM revealed that Pb2+ is adsorbed by −C-S, −C = S, −SOx-, and −N- functional groups on the electrode surface, where electrosorption and chemisorption co-occur. This work shows that biochar can be engineered and explored broadly as an inexpensive sustainable electrode material for the separation and recovery of heavy metals and salt ions from water.

Simultaneous Cu(II)-EDTA decomplexation and Cu(II) recovery using integrated contact-electro-catalysis and capacitive deionization from electroplating wastewater

The complex of heavy metals and organic acids leads to high difficulty in heavy metals separation by traditional technologies. Meanwhile, alkaline precipitation commonly used in industry causes the great consumption of resources and extra pollution. Herein, the effective decomplexation of Cu(Ⅱ)-EDTA and synchronous recycling of Cu2+ were realized by contact-electro-catalysis (CEC) coupled with capacitive deionization (CDI) innovatively. In particular, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) as dielectric powders could generate reactive oxygen species under ultrasonic stimulation, realizing continuous deaminization and decarboxylation of Cu(Ⅱ)-EDTA and accelerating the totally breakage of Cu-O and Cu-N bonds. Additionally, the degradation pathway and intermediates evolution of Cu(Ⅱ)-EDTA were investigated using various characterization methods. It was confirmed that decarboxylation predominantly governed the degradation process of Cu(Ⅱ)-EDTA in CEC. During the course of treatment, the degradation ratio of Cu(Ⅱ)-EDTA reached 86.4 % within 150 min. Impressively, this strategy had satisfactory applicability to other metal combinations and excellent cycle stability. Subsequently, the released Cu ions were captured by CuSe cathode electrode through CDI. This research elucidated the degradation mechanism of persistent organic pollutant during CEC, and provided a novel approach for efficiently treating industrial wastewater containing metal complexes and advancing the exploitation and utilization of new technologies for metal recovery.

Removal of Co(II) and various metal ions from the residue of the zinc plant through solvent extraction using both acid and neutral extractants

AbstractThe recovery of cobalt from secondary sources is a crucial issue in technology development, particularly for its numerous applications in various industries. Solvent extraction has proven an effective method for metallic ions separation from secondary sources. The main goal of this work was to study the separation of metals by solvent extraction technique from zinc plant leach waste. Initially, several extractants, including Cyanex 272, Cyanex 301, LIX 5640 H, Alamine 336, and tri‐n‐octylamine (TOA), were tested to treat the leach solution. It was discovered that the saponified extractant di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) (10%) + tri‐n‐butyl phosphate (TBP) (10%) effectively eliminated interfering elements such as manganese, zinc, and iron, with extraction efficiencies of 95%, 98%, and 99.9%, respectively. To increase the concentration of cobalt in the purified solution, the cobalt recovery step was performed using various acids on the loaded organic phase. The best outcome was achieved using ammonium sulphate salt (1 M), which recovered about 50% of the cobalt present in the organic phase. The recovered cobalt was then subjected to the electrowinning process to produce cobalt metal of high purity. A cathodic current density of 100 A/m2 was determined to be the optimal current for the electrolyte solution. Lastly, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses were carried out to examine the structure and purity of the resulting metallic cobalt, which was found to have a purity of 99.5%.

Effect of an inclined magnetic field on dispersion of solute in a pulsatile flow through a channel of absorptive porous walls

The present investigation gives an insight to comprehend the complex mechanism of species transport through porous walls, which has applications for crude oil refining, oil reservoir engineering, and separation of metal from fluids. The paper analyzes the impact of an inclined magnetic field on mass transport phenomena of solute through an unsteady, viscous, incompressible, and electrically conducting fluid flowing between two parallel plates. Both plates are permeable, and the flow is driven by a periodic pressure gradient. At both channel walls, the first order boundary reaction is applied. The governing time depending advection and diffusion equation is solved numerically based on Aris's method of moments. To determine the axial mean concentration distribution of solute, the first four central moments are used in a Hermite polynomial representation. It is significant to note that the dispersion of tracer is more significant for the low frequencies rather than the high frequencies. The behavior of the dispersion process of the tracer is studied for various flow parameters such as the angle of inclination of the magnetic field (α), Hartmann number (M), absorption parameter (β), suction Reynolds number (R), injection Reynolds number (R′), Womersley number (ω), and dispersion time (t) for both purely oscillatory and combined flows. It is significant to note that with the increment of R, α, and M, the amplitude of the dispersion coefficient of the solute reduces. On the other hand, an opposite phenomenon is observed for R′. It is seen that the transport coefficient moves cyclically with a double frequency period for all values of R and R′. Also, it is found that the peak of the mean concentration distribution enhances with the increment of α and M because the flow velocity decreases.

Separation of heavy metals from dilute solutions using D2EHPA carrier fixed onto the outer surface of coaxially electrospun core-sheath fibers

In this study, porous membranes based on core-sheath fibers covered with fixed carriers were prepared by coaxial electrospinning for the separation of heavy metal ions from dilute solutions. Cellulose triacetate (CTA) and an extractant di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) were mixed to prepare a sheath-layer solution and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) was adopted to prepare a core-layer solution for electrospinning. The morphological and textural properties as well as chemical composition of the fabricated core-sheath fibers were first analyzed to determine the optimal preparation conditions. The ability and selectivity of such fixed D2EHPA carriers were evaluated via the adsorption of Zn2+, Cu2+, and Ni2+ ions from dilute solutions. Dynamic tests revealed that the adsorption of metal ions on the core-sheath fibrous membrane made of 52 wt% PVDF-HFP, 18 wt% D2EHPA, and 30 wt% CTA (on a dry basis) reached equilibrium within 8 h. As expected, all adsorption isotherms at specific equilibrium pH values were well described by the Langmuir equation, ascribed to the chemical reaction nature between metal ions and D2EHPA carrier. The crossflow permeation-adsorption tests of a multi-metal solution in a total recycling mode revealed the adsorption selectivity of Zn2+ over Cu2+ and Ni2+, as observed in conventional liquid–liquid extraction. Four repeated adsorption-regeneration experiments revealed an adsorption efficiency beyond 95 % relative to the first route, demonstrating the satisfactory reusability and stability of the as-prepared core-sheath fibrous membranes for this purpose.

Characterization and concentration of U, Nb, Pb, Ag, and Fe from the Huayangchuan polymetallic ore

The separation and recovery of valuable metals from the Huayangchuan uranium polymetallic ore was investigated based on mineralogical research and mineral processing experiments. The most promising valuable elements in the ore, according to mineralogical studies, are U, Nb, and Pb. 95.75% of U and 93.00% of Nb are found in betafite, 46.85% of Pb is present in galena, 52.01% of Pb occurs in cerussite, and associated Ag exists primarily in galena. The beneficiation process involving gravity concentration, magnetic separation, and flotation was determined based on the mineralogical characteristics of the ore. The U-Nb concentrate with U grade of 3578 ppm and recovery of 83.18 %, Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> grade of 4391 ppm and recovery of 74.55 % can be obtained, and five elements including U, Nb, Pb, Ag, and Fe are recovered. Compared with the previous beneficiation experimental process, the flowsheet is greatly simplified and the beneficiation recovery efficiency has been improved. The results of this investigation can help to address the gaps in the processing of low-grade uranium deposits with similar mineralogical properties.

Solar-assisted selective separation and recovery of precious group metals from deactivated air purification catalysts

The mitigation of environmental and energy crises could be advanced by reclaiming platinum group precious metals (PGMs) from decommissioned air purification catalysts. However, the complexity of catalyst composition and the high chemical inertness of PGMs significantly impede this process. Consequently, recovering PGMs from used industrial catalysts is crucial and challenging. This study delves into an environmentally friendly approach to selectively recover PGMs from commercial air purifiers using photocatalytic redox technology. Our investigation focuses on devising a comprehensive strategy for treating three-way catalysts employed in automotive exhaust treatment. By meticulously pretreating and modifying reaction conditions, we achieved noteworthy results, completely dissolving and separating rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), and platinum (Pt) within a 12-h time frame. Importantly, the solubility selectivity persists despite the remarkably similar physicochemical properties of Rh, Pd, and Pt. To bolster the environmental sustainability of our method, we harness sunlight as the energy source to activate the photocatalysts, facilitating the complete dissolution of precious metals under natural light irradiation. This eco-friendly recovery approach demonstrated on commercial air purifiers, exhibits promise for broader application to a diverse range of deactivated air purification catalysts, potentially enabling implementation on a large scale.