A method of midstream production of Ge and Ga from an REE extraction process is compatible with downstream industrial processes, and may produce Ge and Ga that is 90% pure as oxides, salts, or metals. A method for producing critical minerals includes vaporizing a feedstock comprising the critical minerals; cooling the vaporized feedstock to a condensation temperature of a critical mineral; and capturing the condensed critical mineral. Systems and methods disclosed herein for producing critical minerals are integrated into a rare earth extraction process to co-produce germanium and gallium concentrates.

A method of midstream production of Ge and Ga from an REE extraction process is compatible with downstream industrial processes, and may produce Ge and Ga that is 90% pure as oxides, salts, or metals. A method for producing critical minerals includes vaporizing a feedstock comprising the critical minerals; cooling the vaporized feedstock to a condensation temperature of a critical mineral; and capturing the condensed critical mineral. Systems and methods disclosed herein for producing critical minerals are integrated into a rare earth extraction process to co-produce germanium and gallium concentrates.

The invention relates to a method for preparing a material made of silicon and/or germanium nanowires, comprising the steps of: i) placing a source of silicon and/or a source of germanium in contact with a catalyst comprising a binary metal sulfide or a multinary metal sulfide, said metal(s) being selected from among Sn, In, Bi, Sb, Ga, Ti, Cu, and Zn, by means of which silicon and/or germanium nanowires are obtained, ii) optionally recovering the silicon and/or germanium nanowires obtained in step (i); the catalyst and, optionally, the source of silicon and/or the source of germanium being heated before, during and/or after being placed in contact under temperature and pressure conditions that allow the growth of the silicon and/or germanium nanowires.

The invention relates to a method for preparing a material made of silicon and/or germanium nanowires, comprising the steps of: i) placing a source of silicon and/or a source of germanium in contact with a catalyst comprising a binary metal sulfide or a multinary metal sulfide, said metal(s) being selected from among Sn, In, Bi, Sb, Ga, Ti, Cu, and Zn, by means of which silicon and/or germanium nanowires are obtained, ii) optionally recovering the silicon and/or germanium nanowires obtained in step (i); the catalyst and, optionally, the source of silicon and/or the source of germanium being heated before, during and/or after being placed in contact under temperature and pressure conditions that allow the growth of the silicon and/or germanium nanowires.

A method of extracting germanium from a germanium deposit using a thermal reduction process is disclosed. The method includes: adding sodium monophosphate to a germanium deposit to obtain a mixed germanium deposit; isolating the mixed germanium deposit from air; increasing the temperature and then baking the mixed germanium deposit; and obtaining a germanium concentrate after volatilization of the mixed germanium deposit.

A method of extracting germanium from a germanium deposit using a thermal reduction process is disclosed. The method includes: adding sodium monophosphate to a germanium deposit to obtain a mixed germanium deposit; isolating the mixed germanium deposit from air; increasing the temperature and then baking the mixed germanium deposit; and obtaining a germanium concentrate after volatilization of the mixed germanium deposit.

The processes of the present disclosure can comprise feeding a furnace with a raw material chosen from a copper-containing material, a nickel-containing material, a cobalt-containing material and mixtures thereof. These materials can be quite complex and contain various levels of impurities and valuable metals (base metals, precious metals, platinum group metals, minor metals). The processes allow the volatilization of arsenic and indium contained therein, thereby obtaining a material at least partially depleted in at least one of arsenic and indium, wherein before volatilizing the material, composition of the material is optionally modified so as to obtain a ratio % S/(% (Cu/2)+% Ni+% Co) of about 0.5 to about 2. The processes can comprise feeding a melting device with the depleted material, and with a source of carbon in order to obtain a multi-layer product and an off gas, wherein before melting the depleted material, the depleted material composition is optionally modified so as to obtain a ratio % S/(% (Cu/2)+% Ni+% Co) of about 0.5 to about 2. While one of the main purposes of the processes of the present disclosure is to recover Cu, Ni and Co from complex materials, it also provides a means of recovering several other metals, including In, Ge, Pb, Bi, precious metals and platinum group metals. Cu, Ni, Co and other metals are conveniently recovered in different products from the processes (gaseous, dust, slag, matte, speiss and metal).

A method for recovering germanium from exhaust gas, includes: a first step of bringing the exhaust gas into contact with circulating water to move germanium; a second step of supplying the circulating water and a soluble iron salt to a reception tank; a third step of neutralizing the circulating water; and a fourth step of settling a precipitate in the circulating water. The first step to the fourth step are set as one cycle and are repeatedly executed in two or more cycles. In the second step of a second or subsequent cycle, at least a part of the precipitate obtained as the soluble iron salt in the fourth step is injected into the reception tank. The precipitate is taken out after executing the first step to the fourth step in a predetermined number of cycles.

A method for recovering germanium from exhaust gas, includes: a first step of bringing the exhaust gas into contact with circulating water to move germanium; a second step of supplying the circulating water and a soluble iron salt to a reception tank; a third step of neutralizing the circulating water; and a fourth step of settling a precipitate in the circulating water. The first step to the fourth step are set as one cycle and are repeatedly executed in two or more cycles. In the second step of a second or subsequent cycle, at least a part of the precipitate obtained as the soluble iron salt in the fourth step is injected into the reception tank. The precipitate is taken out after executing the first step to the fourth step in a predetermined number of cycles.

Processes for producing germanium-68 from a gallium target body are disclosed. In some embodiments, germanium-68 and gallium are precipitated to remove metal impurities. Germanium-68 and gallium are re-dissolved and loaded onto an ion exchange column to separate germanium-68 from gallium.