Research Progress on Resource Occurrence and Separation Extraction of Germanium in Fly Ash

Germanium is an indispensable strategic rare metal resource in the fields of information and communication, modern aviation, military, new energy and many other high-tech fields. Accelerating the separation and extraction of germanium from fly ash can not only improve the existing production and supply capacity of domestic germanium resources, expand the national germanium strategic material reserve base, but also alleviate the ecological and environmental pressure caused by fly ash storage and promote the diversified high-value green recycling and utilization of coal and its by-products. This article reviews the latest research progress on the resource occurrence forms, leaching processes, and separation and extraction methods of germanium in fly ash. The current status of precipitation, volatilization, and extraction methods for the recovery of germanium resources in fly ash is emphasized, and the advantages and disadvantages of various methods are analyzed. At the same time, the efficient utilization of germanium in fly ash is discussed.