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Palladium (Pd) 1. Basic Information Atomic Number 46 Symbol Pd Atomic Mass 106.42 g/mol Category...
Platina
Platinum (Pt) Basic Information
| Atomic Number | 78 |
| Symbol | Pt |
| Atomic Mass | 195.09 g/mol |
| Category | Transition metal |
| Group, Period, Block | 10, 6, d |
Physical and Chemical Properties
Platinum is a silvery-white precious metal with the following properties:- Melting point: 1772°C
- Boiling point: 3800°C
- Density: 21.45 g/cm3
- Corrosion and oxidation resistant
- Highly unreactive and chemically stable
- Can form complexes with various ligands
- Excellent catalyst for various chemical reactions
Presence in Water and Health Effects
Platinum is rarely found in natural water in significant concentrations. However, contamination of water by platinum can occur from:- Waste from precious metal refining industries
- Runoff from platinum mining
- Vehicle emissions that use platinum catalysts
- Pure platinum metal is generally non-toxic
- Certain platinum salts may cause allergies and irritation
- Long-term exposure to platinum compounds may affect the kidneys and nervous system
Water Treatment Applications and Removal Methods
Although rarely required, removal of platinum from water can be done by the following methods:- Ion exchange: Using specialized ion exchange resins that are selective to platinum
- Adsorption: Activated carbon or special adsorbents can adsorb platinum complexes
- Chemical precipitation: Precipitates platinum as an insoluble salt
- Membrane filtration: Reverse osmosis or nanofiltration can remove platinum ions
- Electrolysis: Reduces platinum ions to platinum metal at the cathode
Industrial Use in Water Treatment
Although platinum is rarely used directly in water treatment, some related applications include:- Catalysts in advanced oxidation processes for wastewater treatment
- Electrodes in electrolysis cells for the production of disinfectants such as ozone
- Dissolved oxygen sensors that use platinum electrodes
- Catalysts in fuel cells for water treatment and energy production
Case Studies and Real World Application Examples
1. Platinum recovery from industrial effluent: A precious metal refining plant in South Africa uses an ion exchange system to recover platinum from process wastewater. A special anion exchange resin was used to adsorb the chloroplatinate complex. The system successfully recovered more than 99% of platinum, reducing economic losses and environmental impacts. 2. Wastewater treatment from the automotive industry: An automotive component plant in Germany that produces catalytic converters generates wastewater containing fine platinum particles. They implemented a treatment system that combines coagulation, flocculation, and membrane filtration to remove platinum. The treated water can be reused in the production process, reducing clean water consumption. 3. Monitoring platinum in aquatic environments: A study of urban rivers in the UK used platinum-based sensors to monitor organic contaminant levels. Platinum electrodes were used in a voltammetry technique to detect various pollutants with high sensitivity. The system enables real-time monitoring of river water quality.Regulatory Guidelines and Standards
There are no specific standards for platinum in drinking water in most countries. However, some general guidelines include:- WHO does not set specific limits for platinum in drinking water
- US EPA includes platinum in its list of contaminants that may require regulation in the future
- The European Union sets limits on platinum emissions from motor vehicles, which indirectly affects water quality
Environmental Impacts and Sustainability Considerations
Environmental considerations related to platinum in the context of water treatment include:- Platinum is a scarce and expensive resource, so its recovery and recycling are critical
- Platinum mining can lead to environmental degradation and water pollution
- Platinum emissions from motor vehicles can contaminate soil and surface water
- The use of platinum in catalysts can improve the efficiency of water treatment processes, reducing energy and chemical consumption
- Development of more efficient methods of platinum recovery from wastewater
- Research on cheaper and more abundant platinum substitutes for catalyst applications
- Improved design of catalytic converters to reduce platinum emissions
Future Trends and Research in Water Treatment
Some promising research areas and trends include:- Development of platinum nanocatalysts for more efficient degradation of organic pollutants
- Use of platinum in microbial fuel cell technology for wastewater treatment and energy production
- Synthesis of platinum-graphene composite materials for water purification applications
- Utilization of platinum catalytic properties in membrane-based desalination systems
- Development of platinum-based sensors for real-time detection of water contaminants in very low concentrations
- Research on the long-term effects of platinum nanoparticles on aquatic ecosystems
Interesting Facts Related to Water Treatment
- A gram of platinum can make a wire 2 kilometers long, which can be used for electrodes in water quality sensors
- Platinum has exceptional catalytic properties, accelerating reactions by millions of times, useful in advanced oxidation processes for water treatment
- Despite being highly corrosion-resistant, platinum can dissolve in very hot seawater at depth, demonstrating the importance of understanding the behavior of this metal in various water conditions
- Some microorganisms have been found to accumulate platinum, opening up possibilities for bioremediation and platinum recovery from contaminated water
- Platinum has been used in the manufacture of "highly oxygenated water" which is claimed to have health benefits, although these claims remain controversial