Patent ID: 6054104
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: B01D,C01G,C03B,C22B

Abstract:
A process for recovering germanium from a chemical vapor deposit exhaust, comprising the steps of:scrubbing the chemical vapor deposit exhaust to form a scrubber solution having gaseous and particulate germanium material and silicon oxide and hypochlorite therein;equalizing and neutralizing the scrubber solution to form an equalized and neutralized germanium solution having a required pH to maintain the solubility of the silicon oxide and hypochlorite therein;reducing hypochlorites in the equalized and neutralized germanium solution to form a hypochlorite reduced germanium solution;precipitating and neutralizing the hypochlorite reduced germanium solution by adding a metal cationic salt to form a precipitated and neutralized solution having a cationic germanate salt and a cationic metasilicate salt therein;flocculating the precipitated and neutralized solution to aggregate germanate and metasilicate solids therein to form a flocculation solution;collecting the flocculation solution and forming a flocculated material;drying the flocculated material to produce a dry sludge of germanium; andforming the dry sludge into filter cakes for recycling.