Study on the method of recovering and separating indium from residue containing indium

Abstract

A method of recovering indium from complex smelting residue containing indium was investigated. Indium was extracted by technique of low acid leaching and solvent extraction. The conditions of separating iron and indium were studied and the optimal conditions were determined. When the residue is two-class-countercurrent leached with 2 mol/L H₂SO₄ and 30–40 g/L NaCl at 100 °C, the leaching rate of indium is 80%. The extraction rate of indium is over 98% and that of iron is less than 5% after it is third-class-countercurrent extracted by P204, and when sulfonated kerosene is used as solvent, acidity in aqueous phase remains the same as that of leaching liquid, and phase is for 1:3. Using 2 mol/L HCl as back-extraction agent, with phase ratio being 5:1, by third-class-countercurrent back-extraction, the back-extraction rate of indium is over 99%, but that of iron is very low, which can meet the need of separating indium and iron.

Keywords

residue containing indium / indium / iron / recovery

References

[1] Nagamine Akio, Hayashi Akira, Yoshida Kazumasa, et al. Alkaline cell[P]. US: 4500614, 1985-02-19.

[2] FayekS A, MagedA F, BalboulM R. Optical and electrical properties of vacuum evaporated In doped Se amorphous thin films[J]. Vacuum, 1999, 53(3): 447-450

[3] GiloMordechai, DahanReuben, CroitoruNathan. Transparent indium tin oxide films prepared by ion-assisted deposition with a single-layer overcoat[J]. Optical Engineering, 1999, 38(6): 953-957

[4] NishihamaSyouhei, HiraiTakayuki, KomasawaIsao. Separation and recovery of gallium and indium from simulated zinc refinery residue by liquid-liquid extraction[J]. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 1999, 38(3): 1032-1039

[5] NingShun-ming, ChenZhi-fei. Recovery of zinc and indium from jarosite residues [J]. Transaction of Nonferrous Society, 1997, 7(3): 56-58(in Chinese)

[6] BarakatM A. Recovery of lead, tin and indium from alloy wire scrap[J]. Hydrometallurgy, 1998, 49(1–2): 63-73

[7] TeramotoMasaaki, KariyaAyao, YoneharaTomokichi, et al.. Separation of gallium and indium by supported liquid membranes containing 2-bromodecanoic acid as carrier: Design of supported liquid membrane module based on batch permeation experiments[J]. Hydrometallurgy, 1993, 33(1–2): 1-15

[8] FortesMcb, BenedettoJ S. Separation of indium and iron by solvent extraction[J]. Minerals Engineering, 1998, 11(5): 447-451