Umicore’s advanced refining processes allow for the efficient recovery and refining of germanium from a wide variety of concentrates and byproducts. We can refine nearly any kind of primary material containing germanium, using both pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes. Our technology handles even the most complex recovery and refining challenges and our capacity reaches several thousand tonnes of primary material annually, allowing us to handle high quality volumes with fast turnaround time.
Our solutions are sustainable and environmentally responsible. We have relied solely on zinc-based and recycled germanium sources since 2022, ensuring 100% sustainable Ge in all our solutions.
Delivering high-value outcomes tailored to our customers’ specific material streams is a priority. Since 2022, 100% of our germanium has been sustainably sourced. Unlike other producers that rely on coal-based sources, Umicore exclusively uses zinc-based and recycled germanium. These have a significantly lower environmental footprint, with zinc-based germanium generating 85% less CO₂ emissions than coal-based, and recycled germanium reducing emissions by over 95%.