Methods for the separation of compounds from acidic aqueous solutions
US6238462A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 14, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 29, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 14, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC03B2201/31
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method is disclosed for recovering germanium from a gaseous mixture which includes a germanium-containing compound in vapor or particulate form, acid in vapor form, and water vapor. The gaseous mixture is contacted with a liquid containing water under conditions effective to dissolve the germanium-containing compound in the liquid. The acidity of the resulting liquid mixture is increased under conditions effective to vaporize the germanium-containing compound. The vaporized germanium-containing compound is contacted with one or more aqueous solutions under conditions effective to dissolve and precipitate the germanium-containing compound in at least one of the one or more aqueous solutions, and the resulting precipitate is separated from the at least one of the one or more aqueous solutions. The methods described herein are particularly well suited for recovering germanium from the waste gases produced during optical waveguide manufacturing processes. Germanium recovered by this method can thereafter be used in the production of semiconductors, optical waveguide fibers and optical components.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.