Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Removal of cadmium from raw indium by physical and chemical methods

  • Technical Paper
  • Published:
Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

It is difficult to remove cadmium from raw indium using only electrolytic refining because their standard potentials are similar. In this paper, physical and chemical methods were used to remove Cd from raw indium. Indium metal is vacuum refined for two hours at 400°C with a vacuum pressure of 20 Pa. In this process, 99.70% of the Cd can be removed. The removal rate of Cd reaches 90% to 95% when indium is further smelted for 10 minutes in a 20% glycerin solution of KI and I2 at 180°C. When pre-indium is electrolytic refined in an In2(SO4)3-H2SO4 system, in which the indium content is 80 to 100 g/L, the pH is 2.0-3.0 and the current density is 80 to 100 A/m2, the contents of the impurities decrease and the purity of the indium product reaches 99.99%.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Reference

  • Beilskii, A.A., Elyutin, A.V., and Zubkov, 1981, “Process for Producing High-Purity Indium,” US Patent 4,287,030, July, 10 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo, X.Y., 2004, “The practice on refining of impure indium in Shaoguan smelter,” JOM, November, Vol. 56, No. 11, pp. 309–313.

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Habuka, H., and Hitoshi, F., 1988, “Purification of indium,” Japan Patent 63,250,428, April, 12 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Han, H.M., 1995, “Preparation of high-purity indium,” J. World of Chemistry, August, Vol. 36, No. 4, pp. 174–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazanbaev, L.A., Kozlov, P.A., and Kubasov, V.L., 2003, “Physical-chemical method of high purity indium powder production,” Tsvetnye Metally, January, No.1, pp. 33–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavitt, A., 1966, “Electolytic Process for Refining Indium,” US Patent 3,268,426, 12 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, M.S., 2003, “Comparison of indium purification between vacuum refining and electrowinning,” Journal of Materials Science, December, Vol. 38, No. 24, pp. 4843–4848.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, M.S., Ahn, J.G., and Oh, Y.., 2002, “Production of high-purity indium and gallium metals by vacuum refining,” Materials Transactions, December, Vol. 43, No. 12, pp. 3195–3198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Medoev, B.S., Kaloev, N.I., and Alikhanova, A.P., 1980, “Method for the preparation of high-purity indium,” IZV. Vyssh. Vcheb. Zaved Khim. Tekno. I, No. 11, pp. 1339–1341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Menamara, M.F, Slattery, J.A., and Witt, A.F., 1989, “Vacuum Process for ultra-purification of indium,” US Patent 4,828,608, August, 8 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okamoto, H., and Takebayashi, K., 1996, “Refining of indium,” US Patent 5,543,031, November, 14 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitt, M.G., and Fray, D., 1981, “Refiningof indium by use of solid electrolyte membrane,” Trans. Inst. Min Metall. Sect. C, June, Vol. 90, No. 6, pp. 84–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowinska, A.F., and Walis, L., 1990, “Purification of indium from thallium inclusions by the process of remelting under artifical slags,” J. Less-Common Met., April, Vol. 160, No.1, pp. 117–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su, M.S., Gentry, J.S., and Boss, C.B.J., 1985, “The electrorefinement of indium through an aluminum alkyl complex electrolyte,” Journal of the Electrochemical Society, April, Vol. 132, No. 4, pp. 802–806.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei, C., and Luo, T.J., 2003, “Removing Cd, Zn, Tl, Pb, Bi from crude indium by vacuum process,” Journal of Rare Metals, December, Vol. 27, No. 6, pp. 852–856.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng, D.M., Zhou, Z.H., and Shu, W.G., 2001, “Effect and control of acidity in refining indium,” Journal of Rare Metals, April, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 147–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng, D.M., Zhou, Z.H., and Shu, W.G., 2002, “Preparation of 5N high purified indium by the method of chemical purification-electrolysis,” Journal of Rare Metals, June, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp.137–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, Z.H., Zeng, D.M., and Shu, W.G., 2001, “Behavior of tin ion in electrolytic refining indium and control of level of tin,” Journal of Rare Metals, December, Vol. 25, No. 6, pp. 478–480.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, Z.H., Zeng, D.M., and Shu, W.G., 2003, “Effect of acidity of electrolytic solution on level of tin in electrorefining indium,” Chinese Journal of Nonfer-rous Metals, April, Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 522–525.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, P.R. China

    Z. H. Zhou (Associate professor)

Authors
  1. Z. H. Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Paper number MMP-06-033. Discussion of this peer-reviewed and approved paper is invited and must be submitted to SME Publications Dept. prior to Feb. 29, 2008.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhou, Z.H. Removal of cadmium from raw indium by physical and chemical methods. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 24, 181–184 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403213

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403213

Keywords

Search

Navigation