A method for separating and enriching gallium germanium from a low-concentration gallium germanium solution

Abstract

This invention provides a method for separating and enriching gallium and germanium from a low-concentration gallium-germanium-containing solution, relating to the field of comprehensive resource recycling technology. The method first prepares a fresh extraction organic phase, mixes it with the gallium-germanium-containing solution, extracts, and then allows it to stand for phase separation, yielding a germanium-rich organic phase and a germanium-poor aqueous phase. Next, the germanium-poor aqueous phase is pre-neutralized and acidified with a neutralizing agent, followed by the addition of a reducing agent. After the reaction is complete, liquid-solid separation is performed to obtain a pretreated solution. Finally, the germanium-rich organic phase is mixed with the pretreated solution, extracted, and allowed to stand for phase separation, yielding a gallium- and germanium-rich organic phase and a gallium-poor raffinate. This method can effectively separate gallium and germanium from impurities such as zinc, iron, cadmium, copper, cobalt, and nickel in gallium-germanium-containing solutions, achieving efficient enrichment and recovery of gallium and germanium. It also possesses significant advantages such as simple operation, simultaneous separation of gallium and germanium, effective control of organic matter concentration in the raffinate, and significant inhibition of iron co-extraction.

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