Germanium, as a strategic metalloid, is widely used in high-tech devices, such as cell phones. This material has better charge carrier mobility, which makes germanium wafers better suited for high-frequency applications than silicon ones.
However, germanium is a scarce material. So, to meet industry demands, we ask ourselves, can the germanium commonly found in cellphones and other devices be effectively recycled?
Our way of life is dominated by digital technologies, to the point that they’ve become vital to the operation and development of our society. And for all technologies, the availability of industrial minerals and processed metals is a must.
Since germanium is not a primary mineral but a byproduct of zinc ore processing, it can be harder to obtain than other materials. In fact, only seventy percent of germanium is produced using primary resources; the remaining portion is made from recycled materials.
In 2020, global germanium refinery output increased by roughly 7%.
As demand for germanium increases, the semiconductor industry is being encouraged to find alternative resources and extraction technologies. One of them can be recycling it from old cell phones.
This can be done by leaching various materials in acidic, alkaline, or watery media and then processing the material using a variety of hydrometallurgical techniques.
Recyclable minerals can be found in cell phones. As e-waste has become more and more common over the past few decades, it makes sense that there is a growing movement to recycle cell phones.
Not much has been researched on utilizing recycled germanium in wafers, but it’s an interesting possibility to consider in the future. Here at Wafer World, we’ll be keeping an eye on everything related to germanium and wafer production.
If you’re interested in learning more, give us a call!
