Palladium recovery
AJINOMOTO OMNICHEM
Main features:
- Palladium recovery
- Solvent purification
- Circular business case
A leading client in the chemical industry relies on palladium (Pd) as a catalyst in their production processes. The production process consists of a watery phase and an organic phase. Inopsys was already running a Pd recovery system for the aqueous side stream (see Palladium removal & recovery from aqueous stream).
Building on the success of the first installation, Inopsys and the client collaboratively explored the opportunity to recover palladium from the organic product phase, aiming to maximize efficiency and further strengthen the process’s sustainability and circularity.
The palladium recovery unit treating the pure organic product stream includes:
- Pretreatment via heat exchanger: To prepare for effective Pd adsorption, the incoming organic stream is heated through energy recovery using a heat exchanger, where the effluent helps warm the influent to an optimal temperature. This step ensures conditions are ideal for palladium capture.
- Adsorption through Ion Exchange (IEX): The warmed stream then passes through a second module containing advanced ion exchange (IEX) resins, which selectively extract palladium from the organic phase.
Results:
- The unit enables successful palladium recovery, supporting the client's transition to a circular business model.
- The InOpSys unit is the final step before the product reaches the end customer. By insuring a high-quality output, a trusted partnership is established with the client.
During column rinsing, a Pd-containing organic–aqueous mixture is generated. Since this stream has a higher aqueous content, it is routed back to the InOpSys aqueous recovery unit already installed on site. This clever loop enables even greater Pd recovery, closing the circle between the two treatment phases. This unit is also ATEX certified.
