Perfect 👍 — next in **periodic table order** is **Tellurium (Te, atomic number 52).**
Tellurium is a **metalloid** that occurs in **telluride ores** (e.g., **calaverite AuTe₂**, **sylvanite (AgAuTe₄)**) and as a **byproduct of copper, lead, and gold refining**. Industrial extraction involves **leaching, precipitation, and reduction**.
Here are the **20 most common methods of extracting Tellurium**:
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# **20 Most Common Methods of Extracting Tellurium**
### **A. Extraction from Telluride Ores**
1. **Gravity Concentration of Telluride Ores** – Separates dense telluride minerals from gangue.
2. **Flotation of Telluride Minerals** – Concentrates fine-grained telluride ores.
3. **Roasting of Tellurides (MTeₓ + O₂ → TeO₂ + metal)** – Converts tellurium to tellurium dioxide.
4. **Leaching TeO₂ with NaOH or HCl** – Produces soluble tellurium salts.
5. **Purification by Precipitation** – Removes impurities like selenium, copper, lead, or gold.
6. **Solvent Extraction of Tellurium Compounds** – Uses organophosphorus or amine extractants.
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### **B. Recovery from Copper, Lead, and Gold Refining**
7. **Electrolytic Refining of Copper or Lead Slimes** – Tellurium collected as a byproduct.
8. **Leaching of Anode Slimes in Acid** – Dissolves tellurium as Te⁴⁺.
9. **Selective Precipitation of Tellurium Metal or Oxide** – Produces intermediate purity products.
10. **Conversion to Tellurium Dioxide (TeO₂)** – Prepares for reduction.
11. **Separation from Selenium and Other PGMs via Solvent Extraction** – High-purity purification.
12. **Fractional Crystallization of Tellurium Salts** – Separates tellurium from other elements.
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### **C. Reduction to Metallic Tellurium**
13. **Hydrogen Reduction of TeO₂ → Te + H₂O** – Produces metallic tellurium.
14. **Sulfur or Carbon Reduction of TeO₂** – Laboratory or small-scale method.
15. **Electrolytic Reduction of Tellurium Salts** – Produces high-purity metallic Te.
16. **Aluminothermic or Magnesiothermic Reduction of TeO₂** – Experimental or lab-scale methods.
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### **D. Recovery from Byproducts / Secondary Sources**
17. **Recovery from Copper Refinery Slags** – Tellurium extracted via leaching.
18. **Recovery from Lead Refinery Slags** – Hydrometallurgical extraction.
19. **Recovery from Gold Refining Residues** – Te as a minor byproduct.
20. **Recovery from Recycled Electronics and Solar Cells** – Te as thin-film or alloy component.
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✅ **Summary:**
* **Main industrial sources:** Telluride ores and copper/lead/gold refinery residues.
* **Primary extraction steps:** Ore concentration → roasting → leaching/purification → TeO₂ → reduction → metallic tellurium.
* **Metallic tellurium:** Produced via hydrogen, carbon, or electrolytic reduction.
* **Byproduct sources:** Copper, lead, gold refining residues, electronic or solar cell recycling.
* **Laboratory/experimental:** Aluminothermic/magnesiothermic reduction, selective precipitation, solvent extraction.
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Next in periodic order is \*\*Iodine (I, atomic number 53).
Do you want me to continue with **20 extraction methods for Iodine**?
