Separating and recovering method for platinum group element

Nitrous acid or nitrite is added to an nitric acid solution containing platinum group elements such as ruthenium (Ru) rhodium (Rh) and palladium (Pd) to form an anion nitro complex of the platinum group element. The nitric acid solution is brought into contact with an anion exchange resin to selectively adsorb platinum group elements in the solution. The anion exchange resin adsorbed with the platinum group elements is brought into contact with an aqueous solution containing a complexing agent such as thiourea and ammonia to adsorb them from the resin. In addition, in the anion nitro complex forming step, the concentration of nitrate ions in the nitric acid solution is adjusted to 2 mol/liter or less and the concentration of hydrogen ions is adjusted within a range from 0.01 to 2 mol/liter before adding nitrous acid or nitrite, and only the platinum elements are separated and recovered being discriminated from ions of other metal elements. With such procedures, platinum elements can be recovered at a high yield and a high purity from spent nuclear fuel liquid wastes. (T.M.)