Methodology for measuring the mass concentration of germanium in technological products of lead, zinc, and copper production of the UK MC KAZZINC LLP

Abstract

Germanium is an indispensable high-tech element in many modern industries due to the unique semiconductor properties of its crystals. Subsequently, there were discovered other interesting properties of germanium and its compounds, which contributed to a significant expansion of its industrial use. At present, there are developed few methods for the determination of germanium in various raw materials that could find practical application. The article presents a method for measuring the concentration of germanium in technological products of lead, zinc, and copper industries using the latest technological equipment-an atomic emission spectrometer with inductively coupled plasma Spectro Ciros^CCD with Smart Analyzer Vision software in solutions obtained after decomposition of samples with a mixture of concentrated nitric and hydrofluoric acids, followed by the addition of dilute sulfuric acid at a wavelength of 209.43 nm. The range of analyte contents is 10^-4-10^-3% by mass, the accuracy of the analysis method is ± Δ0.0011-0.0012% by mass, and the extended uncertainty of the analysis results is U (C_Ge) 0.0011-0.013% by mass.