Extraction of germanium(IV) from acid leaching solution with mixtures of P204 and TBP

Abstract

Solvent extraction experiments were conducted from acidic solutions containing germanium(IV) and other metal ions, such as Ga³⁺, Fe³⁺, Zn²⁺ and Fe²⁺ in hydrometallurgical process of zinc. The purpose of this work was to enhance the efficiency of the extraction and stripping processes and the selectivity of germanium and other metals, while making the method as simple as possible. Germanium was recovered from sulfuric acid, using di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (P204) as an extractant, tributyl phosphate (TBP) as modifier diluted in sulfonate kerosene and stripped by NaOH aqueous solution. Extraction studies were carried out under different acid concentrations and solvent concentrations, and optimized conditions were determined. The numbers of stages required for extraction and stripping of metal ions were determined from the McCabe-Thiele plot. The results show that the extracting and stripping efficiencies are 94.3% and 100%, respectively, through two-stage extraction and two-stage strip. Moreover, the synergistic effect of TBP on the system P204/kerosense/Ge4+ is revealed with respect to the extraction of germanium.

Keywords

solvent extraction / germanium / di-(2-ethylhexlyl) phosphoric acid / tributyl phosphate / scrubbing / stripping

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