Metallurgical slags enriched in Ga (144–156 mg/kg) and Ge (285–441 mg/kg) were investigated as potential sources of these technologically critical elements. Conventional mineralogical techniques (SEM/EDS, EPMA) were coupled with automated mineralogy using a Tescan Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA) to quantitatively determine the partitioning of Ga and Ge in the slags. Both elements are primarily bound in the slag glass (90.5–95.4% of Ga and 95.9–96.7% of Ge). Extraction experiments conducted in 0.5 M H₂SO₄, 1 M HNO₃, and 1 M HCl were used to simulate the hydrometallurgical recovery in view of the potential recovery of Ga and Ge. The leaching of Ga and Ge (and other valuable metals: Zn, Pb) was investigated as a function of time (2–12 h), temperature (25 and 70 °C), and particle size (original granulated slag and ultrafine-milled slag). Compared to other treatments, the highest Ga and Ge extractability was found in 0.5 M H₂SO₄. No significant effect of the particle size, temperature, and time was observed on the Ga and Ge leaching. The optimum conditions for the extraction were: sulfuric acid treatment, original granulated slag (to limit the additional cost of crushing/milling), 25 °C, and at least 6 h of extraction. Despite the high extractabilities of Ga and Ge, more tests are needed to validate the economic feasibility of their full-scale recovery, especially due to the highly fluctuating prices of these elements on the global market.

研究了富含 Ga (144–156 mg/kg) 和 Ge (285–441 mg/kg) 的冶金渣作为这些技术关键元素的潜在来源。使用 Tescan 综合矿物分析仪 (TIMA) 将常规矿物学技术 (SEM/EDS、EPMA) 与自动化矿物学相结合，以定量确定渣中 Ga 和 Ge 的分配。这两种元素主要结合在渣玻璃中（90.5-95.4% 的 Ga 和 95.9-96.7% 的 Ge）。萃取实验在 0.5 MH ₂ SO ₄、1 M HNO _3中进行, 和 1 M HCl 用于模拟湿法冶金回收考虑到 Ga 和 Ge 的潜在回收率。研究了 Ga 和 Ge（以及其他有价金属：Zn、Pb）的浸出与时间（2-12 小时）、温度（25 和 70 °C）和粒度（原始粒状矿渣和超细研磨矿渣）。与其他处理相比，在 0.5 MH ₂ SO _{4中发现了最高的 Ga 和 Ge 提取率}. 没有观察到粒度、温度和时间对 Ga 和 Ge 浸出的显着影响。提取的最佳条件是：硫酸处理、原始粒状渣（以限制破碎/研磨的额外成本）、25°C 和至少 6 小时的提取时间。尽管 Ga 和 Ge 的可萃取性很高，但需要进行更多的测试来验证其全面回收的经济可行性，尤其是由于这些元素在全球市场上的价格波动很大。