METHOD FOR THE RECOVERY OF GERMANIUM PRESENT IN COAL ASH

摘要

The invention relates to a hydrometallurgical method for the recovery of germanium present in coal ash, which comprises three steps, namely: 1) leaching of the ash in order to obtain an aqueous Ge solution; 2) liquid/liquid extraction with a system formed with catechol as a Ge complexing agent and joined to an organic extractant formed by a fatty amine or a quaternary ammonium compound in a suitable solvent, said system acting selectively on the Ge, separating said Ge from other metals and concentrating same 100 times in relation to the initial aqueous solution (leachate); and 3) precipitation of the Ge such as to produce a solid marketable Ge product of high purity following separation and calcination.