Iridium is a rare and precious metal, which has a wide range of applications in industrial, medical, scientific research and other fields. However, the mining and processing of iridium will also cause environmental pollution and waste of resources, so it is necessary for us to extract iridium from waste liquid, which can not only save costs, but also protect the earth.
So, how do you extract iridium from waste liquid? In fact, the method is very simple, you only need to prepare some common chemical reagents and equipment, and you can operate it at home or in the laboratory. Below, I will teach you some practical tips to make you a master of iridium chloride.
First of all, you need to collect the waste liquid containing iridium, such as the cleaning solution of the iridium electrode, the solution of iridium salts, the corrosion fluid of the iridium alloy, etc. These wastes are usually acidic, so you should handle them with care, avoid contact with ** or eyes, and preferably wear gloves and goggles.
Then, you need to convert the iridium in the waste liquid to iridium chloride, a compound that is easy to precipitate and separate. You can do this in one of the following ways:
Method 1: Add ammonium chloride to the waste liquid to saturate, then heat to boiling, and stir continuously until the iridium chloride precipitates. This method is quicker, but it produces a lot of ammonia, so you should operate in a well-ventilated area or use a ventilation hood.
Method 2: Add sodium chloride to the waste liquid to saturate, and then leave it for a period of time to allow iridium chloride to precipitate naturally. This method is slower, but safer, and does not produce harmful gases.
Next, you need to separate the precipitated iridium chloride with filter paper or filter cloth, and then wash it several times with distilled or deionized water to remove impurities. You can use a funnel and a beaker for filtration and washing, or a vacuum pump and a Brinell funnel for speed.
Finally, you need to dry the washed iridium chloride and then heat it with a crucible and an alcohol lamp to break it down into metal iridium. You should pay attention to control the temperature, not too high or too low, otherwise it will affect the purity and yield of iridium. You can use a thermometer or a thermocouple to monitor the temperature, or an electric stove instead of an alcohol lamp.
Congratulations, you have successfully extracted iridium from the waste liquid, you can use a balance to weigh the iridium you get, or use a spectrometer to analyze the composition and structure of the iridium you get. You can use the iridium you get for a variety of purposes or sell it to people in need for a decent income.