Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

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

  • Published:
Journal of Central South University Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

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

References

  1. HARBUCK D D JUDD J C BEHUNIN D V. Germanium solvent extraction from sulfuric acid solutions (and co-extraction of germanium and gallium) [J]. Solvent Extraction and Ion Exchange, 1991, 9(3): 383–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. CHU Nai-lin, ZHOU Ling-ye. Scattered metal and the actual effect on the Gulf War [J]. Nonferrous Metals (Extractive Metallurgy), 1994(3): 42–45. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  3. ARROYO F, FONT O, FERNANDEZ-PEREIRA C, QUEROL X, JUAN R, RUIZ C, COCA P. Germanium recovery from gasification fly ash: Evaluation of end-products obtained by precipitation methods [J]. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2009, 167(1/2/3): 582–588.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. BOATENG D A D NEUDORF D A SALEH V N. Recovery of germanium from aqueous solutions by solvent extraction [J]. EP Patent 0,313,201, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  5. SANDEL E. The solvent extraction of metal chelates [J]. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1966, 88(5): 1086–1086.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. ZHOU Ling-ye, CHEN Shao-chun. Scattered metal extraction metallurgy [M]. Beijing: Metallurgical Industry Press, 2008: 60–72. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  7. JUDD J C WARDELL M P DAVIDSON C F. Extraction of gallium and germanium from domestic resources [J]. Light Metals, 1988: 857–862.

    Google Scholar 

  8. HARBUCK D D. Increasing germanium extraction from hydrometallurgical zinc residues [J]. Mineral & Metallurgical Process, 1993, 10(1): 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  9. OWUSU G. Selective extractions of Zn and Cd from Zn-Cd-Co-Ni sulphate solution using di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid extractant [J]. Hydrometallurgy, 1998, 47(2/3): 205–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. DARVISGI D, H D F ALAMDARI E K SADRNEZHAAD S K HALALI M. Synergistic effect of Cyanex 2727 and Cyanex 302 on separation of cobalt and nickel by D2EHPA [J]. Hydrometallurgy, 2005, 77: 227–238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. DARVISHI D, HAGHSHENAS D F ETEMADI S, ALAMDARI E K SADRNEZHAAD S K. Water adsorption in the organic phase for the D2EHPA-kerosene/water and aqueous Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+ sulphate systems [J]. Hydrometallurgy, 2007, 88(1/2/3/4): 92–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. HARINGTON T, HOSSAIN M M. Extraction of lactic acid into sunflower oil and its recovery into an aqueous solution [J]. Desalination, 2008, 218(1/2/3): 287–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. HU Zhi-de, GUAN Zu-jing. Solvent extraction in analytical chemistry [M]. Beijing: Science Press, 2001: 121–132. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  14. DING Jing-min, ZHAO Lian-jun. Organic analysis [M]. Chemical Industry Press, 2004: 33–36. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  15. NASH K L CHOPPIN G R. The thermodynamics of synergistic solvent extraction of zinc(II) [J]. Journal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry, 1977, 39(1): 131–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. TANG Juan. Technology and mechanism of recovery zinc-bearing waste stream by solvent extraction [D]. Changsha: Central South University, 2008. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  17. KESHAVARZ ALAMDARI E MORADKHANI D, DARVISHI D, ASKARI M, BEHNIAN D. Synergistic effect of MEHPA on co-extraction of zinc and cadmium with DEHPA [J]. Minerals Engineering, 2004, 17(1): 89–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. EIVAZIA R H MORADKHANI D, ALAMDARI E K DARVISHI D. Solvent extraction separation of zinc, manganese and cobalt in sulfate solutions by D2EHPA [C]// MOYER B A. Proc Int Solvent Extraction Conference. Tucson: Canadian Inst. Min & Metal, Montreal, 2008: 233–238.

    Google Scholar 

  19. KUMBASAR R A. Extraction and concentration study of cadmium from zinc plant leach solutions by emulsion liquid membrane using tri-octylamine as extractant [J]. Hydrometallurgy, 2009, 95(3/4): 290–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. ALIBRAHIM M, SHLEWIT H, ALIKE S. Solvent extraction of Vanadium (IV) with di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid and tributyl phosphate [J]. Rperiodica Polytechnic Chemical Engineering, 2008, 1(52): 29–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. SCHULZ W W NAVRATIL J D BESS T. Science and technology of tributyl phosphate [M]. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1987: 63–82.

    Google Scholar 

  22. ALAMDARI E K DARVISHI D, SADRNEZHAAD S K SHABESTARI Z M O’HADIZADEH A, AKBARI M. Effect of TBP as a modifier for extraction of zinc and cadmium with a mixture of DEHPA and MEHPA [C]// SOLE K C, COLE P M, PRESTON J S, ROBINSON D J. Proc Int Conf Solvent Extraction Conference. Johannesburg: S Afr Inst Min & Metall, 2002: 1052–1057.

    Google Scholar 

  23. SHEN S, CHANG Z, LIU J, SUN X, HU X, LIU H. Separation of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch extract by three-liquid-phase extraction systems [J]. Separation and Purification Technology, 2007, 53(3): 216–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. MA Rong-jun. New research on hydrometallurgy [M]. Changsha: Hunan Science & Technology Press, 1999: 97–108. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Resources Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Xi-hong Ma  (马喜红), Wen-qing Qin  (覃文庆) & Xue-lan Wu  (吴雪兰)

Authors
  1. Xi-hong Ma  (马喜红)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wen-qing Qin  (覃文庆)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xue-lan Wu  (吴雪兰)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wen-qing Qin  (覃文庆).

Additional information

Foundation item: Project(50774094) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ma, Xh., Qin, Wq. & Wu, Xl. Extraction of germanium(IV) from acid leaching solution with mixtures of P204 and TBP. J. Cent. South Univ. 20, 1978–1984 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-013-1698-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-013-1698-1

Key words

Search

Navigation