Precious Metal Catalyst Removal/Recovery
Many important pharmaceutical intermediates and API’s (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) are synthesized utilizing a variety of heterogeneous or homogeneous precious metal catalyst. The subsequent removal of soluble and chelated precious metal catalyst is critical to both meeting the increasingly stringent limits on residual metals in API’s, and for recovery of the precious metals for recycle.
Ecosorb® adsorbent products and Graver’s new Ecosorb PAK™ adsorbent cartridges are highly effective in selectively removing precious metals from a variety of pharmaceutical intermediates and final products. Since each reaction/solvent system is unique, Graver provides a “sample kit”, of different adsorbent types for screening in specific applications. Many of the carbon and silica based Ecosorb formulations are available as Ecosorb PAK adsorbent cartridges, in sizes ranging from lab scale (typical flow rate 5 ml/minute) to full scale banks of cartridges operating up to 100 liter per minute.
Ecosorb adsorbent powders can be used in a stirred reactor, or as a precoat or deep bed operating mode, where the adsorbent is added directly to the filter, eliminating contamination of the reaction vessel. Formulations include moist versions, suitable for aqueous systems, as well as low-moisture versions suitable for organic solvents.
