Abstract:The refining of platinum group metals is based mainly on solvent extraction methods, whereas Ru is selectively recovered by distillation as RuO 4 . Replacement of distillation by extraction is expected to simplify the purification process. To develop an effective extraction system for Ru, we analyzed the Ru species in HCl with ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and Ru K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopies, and we examined the properties of Ru extracted with N-2-ethylhexyl-bis(N-di-2-ethylhexyl-ethylamide) amine (EHBAA) and trioctylamine (TOA). EXAFS and UV-Vis spectra of Ru in HCl solutions revealed that the predominant Ru species in 0.5-10 M HCl solutions changed from [RuCl 4 (H 2 O) 2 ] − to [RuCl 6 ] 3− with the HCl concentration. The extraction percentages (E%) of Ru in the EHBAA system increased with increasing HCl concentration, reached 80% at [HCl] = 5 M, and decreased at higher HCl concentrations; the corresponding E% for TOA were low. EXAFS analysis of the extracted complex indicated that the Ru 3+ had 5 Cl − and 1 H 2 O in its inner coordination sphere. The similarity of the dependence on HCl concentrations of the E% in the EHBAA system and the distribution profile of [RuCl 5 (H 2 O)] 2− on [RuCl n (H 2 O) 6−n ] 3−n suggested that the EHBAA extracted the pentachlorido species.