Germanium Recovery from Optical Fiber Waste


Germanium Recovery from Optical Fiber Waste

Recksiek, V.; Scharf, C.

Germanium is an essential element for the European information technology. The increasing demand for high speed internet connections requires the application of optical fibers, which cannot be produced without Germanium. Because of high supply risks, the European Union added Germanium to the list of critical raw materials in 2010. The world refinery production of Germanium was approximately 165 metric tons in 2014. Thirty percent of this amount was used for the manufacturing of optical fibers. In the production process various Germanium containing scraps are generated, from some of these Germanium is not yet recovered.
This poster outlines methods for the recovery of Germanium from these waste materials. The necessary mechanical processing and a possible pyrometallurgical recovery process are discussed.

Keywords: Germanium; recovery; distillation; reduction; chlorination

  • Poster
    European Resources Forum, Nationales Ressourcen-Forum, 09.-11.11.2016, Berlin, Deutschland
  • Lecture (Conference)
    Aufbereitung und Recycling, 11.-12.11.2015, Freiberg, Deutschland

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-25050
Publ.-Id: 25050