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A Chlorine-Free Protocol For Processing Silicon, Germanium, And Tin, Michael J. Krause

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Replacing molecular chlorine and hydrochloric acid with less energy- and risk-intensive reagents would dramatically improve the environmental impact of metal manufacturing at a time when demand for metals is rapidly increasing. Germanium and tin are classified as “critical” elements based on growing demand for these elements in technological applications, lack of suitable substitutes, and, for germanium, high dispersion in the environment making extraction of the element process-intensive. This thesis describes a recyclable quinone / catechol redox platform that provides an innovative replacement for elemental chlorine and hydrochloric acid in the conversion of germanium metal or tin metal to element tetrachloride …