Study of the recovery of indium from residue using solvent extraction

Abstract

Indium is a metal that is part of the Rare Earths family which presents commercial and strategic value to the eletronics industry. In the Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD), indium is found on the form of indium tin oxide (ITO). Because of its physical and chemical properties, its use is increasingly demanded for high technology applications. Since it's a low concentration subproduct of zinc and lead mineration, primary extraction of the metal is unable to fulfill the rising demand for indium. Therefore, strategies are necessary to obtain indium from secundary mineration. Metal recuperation from urban residue can be made from LCD screens (liquid crystal). Indium recovery is strategic based on residue from eletronic equipments. One possibility for indium salvage is through hidrometallurgical processes. For so, this project will evaluate an hidrometallurgical route for indium recovery. Leaching panels and solvent extration will be the techniques used in this work. Different leaching agents in different processing conditions will be evaluated. The choice of the extration technique using solvents is relevant once it allows the seletive recovery of metals. The extraction and reextracion conditions of indium recovery will be determined. Finally, an alternative route will be proposed for the indium recovery from electronics residue.