9
of diverse technologies. Based on this review, some poten-
tial research thrust areas and challenges associated with Te
recovery from tailings can be put forward:
1. Future technologies for reprocessing should priori-
tize increasing the Te content in low-waste materi-
als. Despite numerous efforts to develop recovery
technologies, there remains significant potential
for achieving environmentally friendly, fully inte-
grated, and sustainable Te recovery. The separation
of Te from tailings, aligning with environmental
protection standards and societal requirements, is
anticipated to be realized in the foreseeable future.
2. Due to the low Te concentrations in copper flo-
tation tailings, there is insufficient documenta-
tion on the distribution of Te-bearing minerals
in these resources. This includes a lack of process
mineralogy to identify the host minerals contain-
ing Te, which could be targeted for recovery. In
extractive metallurgical processes, the behavior of
Te is comprehensively understood, particularly
for anode slimes. Consequently, research that
encompasses the mineralogical characteristics of
flotation tailings and technologies for recovering
Te is recommended. Given that the tailings pre-
dominantly consist of fine-grained particles, flota-
tion and hydrometallurgical techniques emerge as
potentially viable routes for Te recovery. Therefore,
forthcoming research should concentrate on inves-
tigating these methods for recovering Te from sul-
fide tailings.
REFERENCES
[1] Mahmoudi, A., Shakibania, S., Mokmeli, M. 2020,
Tellurium, from copper anode slime to high purity
product: A review paper. Metall. Mater. Trans. B 51,
2555–2575.
[2] Yang, W., Lan, X., Wang, Q., Dong, P., Wang, G.,
2021. Selective pre-leaching of tellurium from tel-
luride-type gold concentrate. Front. Chem. 9 (101),
593888.
[3] Bo, L., Yuanfeng, P., Qi, Z., Zhihong, H., Jie, L.,
Huining, X., 2019. Porous cellulose beads recon-
stituted from ionic liquid for adsorption of heavy
metal ions from aqueous solutions. Cellulose, 26,
9163–9178.
[4] Gulley, A.L., Nassar, N.T., Xun, S., 2018. China,
the United States, and competition for resources that
enable emerging technologies. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
115, 4111.
[5] Jowitt, S.M., Mudd, G.M., Werner, T.T., Weng,
Z.H., Barkoff, D.W., McCaffrey, D., 2018. The criti-
cal metals: an overview and opportunities and con-
cerns for the future. Society of Economic Geologists
Special Publications, 21, 25–38.
[6] Addicks, L., 2008. Copper Refining. Dabney Press.
[7] Anderson, C.S., 2021. Selenium and Tellurium -
2019 Annual Tables. In 2019 Minerals Yearbook. U.S.
Geological Survey: Reston.
[8] Willis, P., Chapman, A., Fryer, A., 2012. Study of
By-Products of Copper, Lead, Zinc and Nickel:
Tellurium Information. Oakdene Hollins: Aylesbury,
UK.
[9] Feng, J., 2017. China’s minor metals and the sup-
ply and demand of gallium, selenium, and tellurium.
In Minor Metals Trade Association Conference China
Nonferrous Metals Industry Association -Gallium
Selenium and Tellurium Branch: Dublin, Ireland,
2017.
[10] Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.
Photovoltaics report www.ise.fraunhofer.de/content
/dam/ise/de/documents/publications/studies
/Photovoltaics-Report.pdf. 2022.
[11] Grygoy´c, K., Jabło´nska-Czapla, M., 2021.
Development of a tellurium speciation study using
IC-ICP-MS on soil samples taken from an area asso-
ciated with the storage, processing, and recovery of
electrowaste. Mol., 26 (9).
[12] Zweibel, K., 2010. The impact of tellurium supply on
cadmium telluride photovoltaics. Science 328 (5979),
699–701.
[13] Liu, Y., Liu, P., Jiang, Q., Jiang, F., Liu, J., Liu, G.,
Liu, C., Du, Y., Xu, J., 2021. Organic/ inorganic
hybrid for flexible thermoelectric fibers. Chem. Eng.
J. 405, 126510.
[14] Lide, D.R., 2005. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and
Physics, 86th ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
[15] El-Mallawany, R.A.H., 2011. Tellurite Glasses
Handbook: Physical Properties and Data, 2nd ed.
CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
[16] Candelise, C., Winskel, M., Gross, R., 2012.
Implications for CdTe and CIGS technologies pro-
duction costs of indium and tellurium scarcity. Prog.
Photovolt. Res. Appl. 20, 816–831.
[17] Rocchetti, L., Beolchini, F., 2015. Recovery of valu-
able materials from end-of-life thinfilm photovoltaic
panels: environmental impact assessment of different
management options. J. Clean. Prod. 89, 59–64.
of diverse technologies. Based on this review, some poten-
tial research thrust areas and challenges associated with Te
recovery from tailings can be put forward:
1. Future technologies for reprocessing should priori-
tize increasing the Te content in low-waste materi-
als. Despite numerous efforts to develop recovery
technologies, there remains significant potential
for achieving environmentally friendly, fully inte-
grated, and sustainable Te recovery. The separation
of Te from tailings, aligning with environmental
protection standards and societal requirements, is
anticipated to be realized in the foreseeable future.
2. Due to the low Te concentrations in copper flo-
tation tailings, there is insufficient documenta-
tion on the distribution of Te-bearing minerals
in these resources. This includes a lack of process
mineralogy to identify the host minerals contain-
ing Te, which could be targeted for recovery. In
extractive metallurgical processes, the behavior of
Te is comprehensively understood, particularly
for anode slimes. Consequently, research that
encompasses the mineralogical characteristics of
flotation tailings and technologies for recovering
Te is recommended. Given that the tailings pre-
dominantly consist of fine-grained particles, flota-
tion and hydrometallurgical techniques emerge as
potentially viable routes for Te recovery. Therefore,
forthcoming research should concentrate on inves-
tigating these methods for recovering Te from sul-
fide tailings.
REFERENCES
[1] Mahmoudi, A., Shakibania, S., Mokmeli, M. 2020,
Tellurium, from copper anode slime to high purity
product: A review paper. Metall. Mater. Trans. B 51,
2555–2575.
[2] Yang, W., Lan, X., Wang, Q., Dong, P., Wang, G.,
2021. Selective pre-leaching of tellurium from tel-
luride-type gold concentrate. Front. Chem. 9 (101),
593888.
[3] Bo, L., Yuanfeng, P., Qi, Z., Zhihong, H., Jie, L.,
Huining, X., 2019. Porous cellulose beads recon-
stituted from ionic liquid for adsorption of heavy
metal ions from aqueous solutions. Cellulose, 26,
9163–9178.
[4] Gulley, A.L., Nassar, N.T., Xun, S., 2018. China,
the United States, and competition for resources that
enable emerging technologies. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
115, 4111.
[5] Jowitt, S.M., Mudd, G.M., Werner, T.T., Weng,
Z.H., Barkoff, D.W., McCaffrey, D., 2018. The criti-
cal metals: an overview and opportunities and con-
cerns for the future. Society of Economic Geologists
Special Publications, 21, 25–38.
[6] Addicks, L., 2008. Copper Refining. Dabney Press.
[7] Anderson, C.S., 2021. Selenium and Tellurium -
2019 Annual Tables. In 2019 Minerals Yearbook. U.S.
Geological Survey: Reston.
[8] Willis, P., Chapman, A., Fryer, A., 2012. Study of
By-Products of Copper, Lead, Zinc and Nickel:
Tellurium Information. Oakdene Hollins: Aylesbury,
UK.
[9] Feng, J., 2017. China’s minor metals and the sup-
ply and demand of gallium, selenium, and tellurium.
In Minor Metals Trade Association Conference China
Nonferrous Metals Industry Association -Gallium
Selenium and Tellurium Branch: Dublin, Ireland,
2017.
[10] Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.
Photovoltaics report www.ise.fraunhofer.de/content
/dam/ise/de/documents/publications/studies
/Photovoltaics-Report.pdf. 2022.
[11] Grygoy´c, K., Jabło´nska-Czapla, M., 2021.
Development of a tellurium speciation study using
IC-ICP-MS on soil samples taken from an area asso-
ciated with the storage, processing, and recovery of
electrowaste. Mol., 26 (9).
[12] Zweibel, K., 2010. The impact of tellurium supply on
cadmium telluride photovoltaics. Science 328 (5979),
699–701.
[13] Liu, Y., Liu, P., Jiang, Q., Jiang, F., Liu, J., Liu, G.,
Liu, C., Du, Y., Xu, J., 2021. Organic/ inorganic
hybrid for flexible thermoelectric fibers. Chem. Eng.
J. 405, 126510.
[14] Lide, D.R., 2005. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and
Physics, 86th ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
[15] El-Mallawany, R.A.H., 2011. Tellurite Glasses
Handbook: Physical Properties and Data, 2nd ed.
CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
[16] Candelise, C., Winskel, M., Gross, R., 2012.
Implications for CdTe and CIGS technologies pro-
duction costs of indium and tellurium scarcity. Prog.
Photovolt. Res. Appl. 20, 816–831.
[17] Rocchetti, L., Beolchini, F., 2015. Recovery of valu-
able materials from end-of-life thinfilm photovoltaic
panels: environmental impact assessment of different
management options. J. Clean. Prod. 89, 59–64.