Perfect 👍 — next in **periodic table order** is **Germanium (Ge, atomic number 32).**
Germanium is a **metalloid** that rarely occurs free in nature. It is primarily obtained as a **byproduct of zinc, copper, and coal processing**, especially from **sphalerite (ZnS) ores**. Extraction involves **oxidation, leaching, and reduction steps** to produce high-purity germanium metal or compounds.
Here are the **20 most common methods of extracting Germanium**:
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# **20 Most Common Methods of Extracting Germanium**
### **A. Extraction from Zinc Ores / Sphalerite**
1. **Roasting Zinc Ore Residues (ZnS + O₂ → ZnO + SO₂)** – Concentrates germanium in flue dust.
2. **Leaching Roasted Residues with Sulfuric Acid (H₂SO₄)** – Dissolves germanium as Ge⁴⁺.
3. **Solvent Extraction of Ge from Zinc Leach Liquor** – Organophosphorus extractants separate Ge from Zn.
4. **Ion Exchange Purification** – Further separates Ge from Fe, Zn, Cu impurities.
5. **Precipitation as Germanium Oxide (GeO₂)** – Intermediate compound.
6. **Calcination of GeO₂** – Removes moisture, prepares for reduction.
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### **B. Reduction to Metallic Germanium**
7. **Hydrogen Reduction of GeO₂ → Ge** – Produces high-purity germanium metal.
8. **Aluminothermic Reduction of GeO₂** – Laboratory or specialty production.
9. **Magnesiothermic Reduction of GeO₂** – Lab or experimental method.
10. **Electrolytic Reduction of Ge Compounds** – Produces metallic Ge powder or crystals.
11. **Reduction of Germanium Chlorides (GeCl₄) with Alkali Metals** – Laboratory metallothermic method.
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### **C. Extraction from Other Sources**
12. **Recovery from Copper Refinery Residues (Anode Slimes)** – Hydrometallurgical leaching.
13. **Recovery from Coal Fly Ash** – Leaching Ge compounds from ash.
14. **Recovery from Germanium-Containing Zinc Slags** – Leaching + precipitation.
15. **Extraction from Low-Grade Sulfide Concentrates** – Roasting → leaching → purification.
16. **Recovery from Electronic Waste / LEDs** – Acid leaching and solvent extraction.
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### **D. Specialized / Experimental Methods**
17. **Plasma Reduction of GeO₂** – Produces high-purity germanium metal.
18. **Solar-Thermal Reduction of GeO₂** – Experimental renewable energy method.
19. **Chemical Vapor Transport (CVT) for High-Purity Ge** – Produces Ge crystals for semiconductors.
20. **Zone Refining of Metallic Germanium** – Purifies metallic Ge to semiconductor grade.
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✅ **Summary:**
* **Main industrial sources:** Zinc ores (sphalerite), copper anode slimes, coal fly ash.
* **Primary extraction steps:** Roasting → leaching → solvent extraction/ion exchange → GeO₂ → reduction to metallic Ge.
* **Metallic germanium:** Produced via hydrogen, aluminothermic, or electrolytic reduction.
* **Laboratory/experimental:** Mg/Na reduction, plasma, solar-thermal, chemical vapor transport, zone refining.
* **Recycling sources:** Electronic waste, LEDs, semiconductors.
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Next in periodic order is **Arsenic (As, atomic number 33).**
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