METHOD OF PRODUCTION OF GALLIUM FROM ALKALI-ALUMINATE SOLUTIONS OF ALUMINOUS PRODUCTION Russian patent published in 2005 - IPC

FIELD: methods of production of gallium.

SUBSTANCE: the invention is pertaining to the method of electrochemical extraction of gallium from the alkali-aluminate solutions of aluminous production. The electrolysis is conducted on the solid cathode at presence of zinc previously introduced into the source solution with production zinc-gallium alloy as a cathode deposit. The source solution is prepared by mixture of the recirculated alkali-aluminate solution with the solution produced at causticization by lime of recirculated soda, either with water, or with the solution of the electrolyte after realization of an electrolysis. The cathode deposit dissolve in the circulating solution of a sodium hydroxide containing 0.3 kg/m³ Na₂O_caustic of not-containing in the composition of sodium salts of gallium, aluminum and zinc. The solution circulation is conducted up to the concentration in it of no less than 10 kg/m³ of gallium and no more 85 kg/m³ of sodium carbonate. From the solution remove zinc by injection in it of 90 % from computational quantity of sodium hydrocarbonate, from which 65-75 % are injected at once, and the rest is introduced under control, that the contents of zinc in the solution kept within the limits of 0.4 - 0.7 kg/m³. ^{Then they add sodium hydroxide in the solution bringing the concentration of Na₂O_caustic upto 70-80 kg/m3 and evaporate it by 16 - 20 volumetric %. The metallic gallium is extracted from the solution by aluminum gallama carburization. The invention ensures an increased productivity of the process, improved purity of commercial gallium, a decreased power input and consumption of reactants.}

EFFECT: the invention ensures an increased productivity of the process, improved purity of commercial gallium, a decreased power input and consumption of reactants.

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