Extracting Germanium from Donetsk Basin Coal

Germanium is industrially important and has many applications. It is used to produce semiconductors, solar panels, optical fibers, infrared optical systems, catalysts for the production of plastics, and fluorescent coatings. Applications have also been developed in medicine, animal husbandry, and crop production. The great demand for germanium has prompted shortages and price rises around the world and, in particular, in Russia. Fossil fuels are potential sources of germanium. Research shows that industrially significant quantities of germanium are present in Donetsk Basin coal. In coal processing—notably in coking—some of the germanium passes to the production wastes, such as supernatant liquid. With a suitable technology for the recovery of germanium from production wastes, Donetsk Basin coal could be an important source of this valuable element. While such technologies already exist, further research would improve their efficiency.