Information: Gallium
Known Methods of Extraction
Perfect 👍 — next in **periodic table order** is **Gallium (Ga, atomic number 31).** Gallium is a **post-transition metal** that does **not occur free in nature**. It is primarily obtained as a **byproduct of aluminum and zinc processing**, especially from **bauxite and sphalerite ores**. Gallium is present in very low concentrations, so extraction focuses on **recovering it from industrial residues**. Here are the **20 most common methods of extracting Gallium**: --- # **20 Most Common Methods of Extracting Gallium** ### **A. Extraction from Aluminum-Processing Residues (Bauxite / Red Mud)** 1. **Acid Leaching of Red Mud with NaOH** – Dissolves gallium into solution. 2. **Solvent Extraction from Bayer Process Liquor** – Uses organophosphorus extractants to separate Ga³⁺. 3. **Ion Exchange Separation of Gallium from Aluminum** – Purifies Ga from Al and Fe ions. 4. **Precipitation as Gallium Hydroxide (Ga(OH)₃)** – Intermediate for further processing. 5. **Calcination of Ga(OH)₃ → Ga₂O₃** – Produces gallium oxide. 6. **Reduction of Ga₂O₃ with Hydrogen** – Produces metallic gallium. --- ### **B. Extraction from Zinc Ores / Sphalerite Byproducts** 7. **Leaching of ZnO or Zn Residues from Zinc Smelting** – Gallium dissolves alongside zinc. 8. **Solvent Extraction from Zinc Leach Liquors** – Organophosphorus reagents to separate Ga. 9. **Precipitation as Ga(OH)₃ or Ga₂S₃** – Alternative intermediate step. 10. **Electrolytic Reduction of Gallium Salts** – Produces metallic gallium. 11. **Aluminothermic Reduction of Ga₂O₃** – Small-scale metallic production. --- ### **C. Laboratory / Small-Scale Methods** 12. **Reduction of GaCl₃ with Alkali Metals (Na/K)** – Lab-scale metallothermic reduction. 13. **Hydrogen Reduction of Ga₂O₃** – Produces metallic gallium. 14. **Magnesiothermic Reduction of Ga₂O₃** – Experimental lab method. 15. **Plasma Reduction of Ga₂O₃** – Research-level high-purity production. --- ### **D. Specialized / Recycling Methods** 16. **Recovery from Spent LEDs / Semiconductors** – Hydrometallurgical leaching. 17. **Recovery from Ga-Containing Electronics / Solar Cells** – Acid leaching + solvent extraction. 18. **Recovery from Aluminum Smelter Waste Streams** – Industrial byproduct extraction. 19. **Recovery from Zinc Refinery Residues** – Hydrometallurgical separation. 20. **Solar-Thermal Reduction of Ga₂O₃** – Experimental renewable energy method. --- ✅ **Summary:** * **Main industrial sources:** Bauxite (aluminum residues) and zinc refinery byproducts. * **Primary extraction steps:** Leaching → solvent extraction/ion exchange → precipitation → reduction to metallic Ga. * **Metallic gallium:** Produced via hydrogen, aluminothermic, or electrolytic reduction. * **Laboratory/experimental:** Mg/Na reduction, plasma, solar-thermal. * **Recycling sources:** Electronics, semiconductors, LEDs, and solar cells. --- Next in periodic order is **Germanium (Ge, atomic number 32).** Do you want me to continue with **20 extraction methods for Germanium**?