Efficient separation and recovery of valuable gallium and indium from gallium-based liquid metal waste

Considering gallium-based liquid metal (G-LM) waste as a kind of hazardous waste, it may pose a serious threat to the surrounding environment and human health if it improperly disposed. Meanwhile, gallium and indium are its main metal elements with high recovery value. Here, a scheme for the acid-leaching resin separation and purification of Ga and In was proposed. First, G-LM waste was leached with 3 M HNO3 for 2 h at 40 °C. Under the optimal conditions, more than 99.99% of Ga, In, and Zn was leached, and then adsorbed and eluted from the solution by a CL-P204 solvent-impregnated resin. Most Sn existed as β-H2SnO3 and entered the slag phase. The recovery and purity of Ga were 96.01% and 99.49%, while those of In were 99.83% and 98.23%. The P204 solvent-impregnated resin used in the experimental process can be recycled, this work demonstrates a new and environmentally friendly method for the separation and purification of Ga and In from G-LM waste.