Removal of Germanium from a Solution by a Magnetic Iron-Based Precipitant

Abstract

This study presents a method for the precipitation of germanium from a solution using magnetic iron-based precipitants and contrasts this method with the commonly employed neutralization–precipitation technique in industrial production, analyzing and comparing their reaction conditions and the properties of their precipitates. This study analyzes the influence of varying experimental conditions (reaction time, reaction temperature, iron:germanium molar ratio, Fe³⁺:Fe²⁺ molar ratio, and reaction pH) on the germanium precipitation efficiency. With a precipitation time of 30 min, a precipitation temperature of 30 °C, an iron:germanium molar ratio of 30:1, an Fe³⁺:Fe²⁺ molar ratio of 3:1, and a reaction pH of 5.0, the optimal germanium precipitation efficiency achieved was 99.5%. Furthermore, this study employed X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry to analyze the properties and composition of the precipitate, providing support for the conclusion regarding germanium precipitation using magnetic iron-based precipitants. Through theoretical analysis and instrumental testing, it was determined that the precipitation of germanium from a solution using magnetic iron-based precipitants significantly reduces the reaction time compared to those of neutralization–precipitation methods. Moreover, a magnetic iron-based precipitant substantially reduces the amount of precipitate, allows for magnetic separation of the precipitate, and effectively alleviates the problem of the presence of other valuable metals in the precipitate.