2.7.1. Synthesis of Rhodium chloride trihydrate (RhCl3.3H2O)

Fig. 8a depicts the block flow diagram to synthetize RhCl₃.3H₂O based on literature review, described by Kleinberg [10]. The manufacturing of RhCl₃.3H₂O starts with the mining of rhodium (Rh), a noble metal which is found in the platinum group metal (PGM) ore in small quantities (i.e., 0.01%). After mining, synthesis process is carried out. The process involves four reactions (Eqs. (2) – (5)) and the overall yield is 1.64 kg RhCl₃.3H₂O kg⁻¹ metallic Rh [10]. Stoichiometric relations and assumptions described in Table 8 were used to build the complete LCI to produce RhCl₃.3H₂O.