Study of osmium and ruthenium distillation with radioactive tracers.

The distillation characteristics of osmium and ruthenium, which have been studied by using both radioactive tracers and inactive compounds, are reported. The tracer solutions were prepared from hexachloro and hexabromo compounds and from the purified sponges of both metals. A quantitative separation of osmium from ruthenium can be made by distillation from peroxide-sulphuric acid solution at 110 degrees for about 40 min. Slow and incomplete distillations are observed when osmium is present as either the chloro or bromo complex. Optimum conditions for the dissolution of acid-insoluble materials containing osmium and ruthenium are discussed.