Current Chemistry: Separation and Recovery of Gold and Other Metals Using Conducting Polymers

Abstract

A variety of metal ions including alkali metals and transition metals can be transported across conducting polymer membranes, but only when an appropriate electrochemical stimulus is applied. This paper summarizes recent work in this area, and also describes how conducting polymer RVC composite materials (RVC = reticulated vitreous carbon) can be used to recover gold from solutions containing [AuCl₄]^-with a high degree of efficiency and selectivity.

Manuscript received: 2 November 2001.

Final version: 19 December 2001.