UV photosynthesis of nickel carbonyl

In the presence of low-molecular-weight organic acids, such as formic, acetic, and propionic, inorganic nickel salts in aqueous solutions are converted to the volatile tetracarbonyl by UV irradiation. Experiments were performed using a flow-through photoreactor, consisting of a 6 m length polytetrafluoroethylene tubing wrapped around a low-pressure mercury vapor UV lamp (254 nm, 15 W). The efficiency of transformation was estimated to be 95%. As no carbon monoxide or external reductant is required, photochemical synthesis may prove to be useful in material chemistry and applicable to the extractive metallurgy of nickel, as well as its refining and recycling. Copyright (C) 2004 Crown in the right of Canada. Published by John Wiley Sons, Ltd.