Extraction and transport of germanium by liquid-liquid and supported liquid membrane extraction using an ionic liquid from aqueous solution

Germanium as a strategic element is found in aqueous solutions of various mining industries. In order to extract and transport of germanium from an aqueous solution containing anionic complexant namely tartaric acid, solvent extraction and supported liquid membrane (SLM) were used with Aliquat 336, respectively. The effectual parameters such as extractant concentration, the type of complexant and its concentration, and the concentration of the stripping phase containing hydrochloric acid were investigated in the solvent extraction system. According to the results, the germanium extraction efficiency increased up to 100% by increasing the concentration of Aliquat 336 up to 0.2 %v/v. In addition, tartaric acid was found to be the best anionic germanium complexant. With the addition of tartaric acid equal to 0.275 mM, the germanium extraction efficiency reached about 99%. At the HCl concentration of 2 M, the highest stripping efficiency (99%) was achieved. In the SLM system, Aliquat 336 5 %v/v as a carrier was sufficient to transport 99% of germanium from the feed to the strip phase. Comparing two systems, the transfer time in the membrane system (510 min) is higher than that in the solvent extraction system (15 min).