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ORGANIZING THE EXTRACTION OF HIGH-PURITY SELENIUM
FROM TECHNICAL SELENIUM
Abdullayev D.N.
Ruziyev U.N.
Mukhitdinov M.M.
Akramov Z.R.
Nasriyeva D.M.
Mannanov U.M.
“Uzbekistan Technological Metals Combine” JSC
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14847935
Abstract
High-purity selenium (with a purity of 99,99% and above) is widely used in
several important industrial sectors due to its unique physical and chemical
properties, which make it a valuable material in high-tech industries. The high-
purity form of selenium (99,99% purity) plays a significant role in enhancing the
effectiveness of numerous advanced industrial processes and products. High-
purity selenium is primarily used in the electronics industry because it plays a
crucial role in semiconductor production. Understanding the difference between
its technical and high-purity forms and exploring methods to obtain this higher
purity are essential for optimizing the utilization and production of selenium.
This thesis discusses the processes of obtaining high-purity selenium from
technical selenium and its significant industrial applications.
General
Description
and
Application
Areas
of
Selenium
The most common application areas of selenium are as follows:
-
Electronics Industry: Selenium is used as a semiconductor, particularly in
solar batteries, photodiodes, and electronic devices.
-
Chemical Industry: Organic selenium compounds are used in pesticides
and dyes.
-
Healthcare: Selenium acts as an antioxidant in the div and is also present
in some mineral dietary supplements.
Differences Between Technical Selenium and High-Purity Selenium
Technical selenium is a form of selenium produced for industrial purposes,
usually with a purity of 99% or less. Such selenium is commonly used in
additives, metallurgy, or industrial chemistry. High-purity selenium, on the other
hand, has a purity of 99,99% or more and is used in specific scientific research,
microelectronics, and specialized medical devices.
Processes for Extracting High-Purity Selenium from Technical Selenium
There are several methods for converting technical selenium into high-purity
selenium. The most common methods are as follows:
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Chemical
Purification
Method:
Chemical purification is one of the most
effective methods for achieving high-purity selenium. In this method, the
impurities (such as alloys and other metals) present in selenium are separated
through chemical reactions.
Reduction Method
: In this method, selenium is altered through reactions
with other chemical elements, allowing the separation of impurities. For
example, selenium dioxide (SeO₂) reacts with hydrogen to produce high-purity
selenium.
Sublimation
: Sublimation is another method used to obtain high-purity
selenium. In this process, selenium is vaporized at high temperatures and then
condensed to obtain pure selenium.
Electrolytic Method:
The electrolytic purification process can also be used
to obtain high-purity selenium. In this method, selenium is separated from
impurities using electrolysis, providing an efficient and precise method for
purification.
Thermal Method:
Thermal processes involve heating selenium in specific
conditions to achieve high purity. These processes are commonly used to extract
high-purity selenium from technical selenium; however, careful control of
temperature and pressure is essential to avoid contamination.
Key Factors in Selenium Purification.
Raw Material Quality: The purity of technical selenium is influenced by the
amount of other metals in its composition. Therefore, paying attention to the
quality of the initial material is important.
Process Efficiency: The efficiency of the purification process and the
manufacturing conditions play a crucial role in obtaining high-purity selenium.
These processes often require complex technologies.
Temperature and Pressure: Proper management of temperature and
pressure is vital for improving the efficiency of the purification process.
Evaluation of Selenium Purity.
The purity of high-purity selenium is
typically evaluated using analytical methods such as spectroscopy and
chromatography. These methods help determine the quantities of impurities
and other elements in the selenium.
Conclusion.
The process of extracting high-purity selenium from technical
selenium is critical for both industrial and scientific research applications. High-
purity selenium plays a vital role in high-tech sectors, eco-friendly energy
production, and healthcare. Its importance is steadily growing in electronics,
solar energy, optics, pharmaceuticals, and metallurgy. Therefore, improving and
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expanding the technologies for obtaining high-purity selenium will create
substantial opportunities for both industry and science in the future.
References:
1.
Zhang, H., Zhu, S., Shang, S., Dong, J., Tian, S., et al. (2024). Preparing 5N
Selenium from Crude Selenium Using a Simple Oxidation–Atmospheric
Sublimation–Dissolution–Reduction Method. Journal of Sustainable Chemistry,
Springer.
2.
Liu, L., Hee, J., Shi, T., Lei, X., Zha, G., Ruyi, W., Jiang, W., Yang, B., Xu, B., Luo,
H. An innovative green method for efficient extraction of selenium by melt
filtration-vacuum distillation.
