Our process can begin with many different sources. As platinum accumulate in many places, its recovery can begin from a lot of places and substrates. In fact the first step of our project would change if the basic matter change. Moreover, #solutionsof phytoremediation provide a lot of substrates and by-products our project could start from. Indeed our process could start from ashes
Sewage Sludge (Incineration) Ashes
The Bioleachning process allow a far better recovery of platinum. Indeed, the drop of pH is required for the metals solubilization. This step is usually realized with chemicals as chlorhydric acid in the actual industry. But in order to achieve a greener process as possible, we decided to lower the pH with biological ways, as the leachning accomplished by Thiobacillus. This method is widely use in mines, e.g. for copper mines in South America, so this will be a reliable step already tested in industrial conditions. This method rely on the ability of the bacteria Thiobacilus to acidify its medium until a pH of 1. The bacterium solution is applied on the ashes and liquid part dropping from it constitute the leachate i.e. a very acidified solutions containing solubilized metals particles mostly in ionic form.
This step wouldn't be obligatory in our process, but it could improve our recovery yield while still using keeping a environmentally friendly approach.
Once the platinum is leached, we need to recover it. Our process is