Tellurium (Te): Specialty Alloy Component and Critical Additive for Electronic Devices

‘Tellurium has two forms: one with a silvery-white metallic luster, and another as an amorphous black powder. It has a melting point of 452°C and boiling point of 1390°C, is brittle, and exhibits chemical properties similar to antimony. Tellurium dissolves in sulfuric acid, nitric acid, aqua regia, potassium cyanide, and potassium hydroxide, but is insoluble in water and carbon disulfide. When burned in air, it produces a blue flame and forms tellurium dioxide (TeO₂).

Applications

1. Used in the production of special alloys.
2. Used in manufacturing electronic components.

Product Series

Health and Safety Information

Signal Word	Danger
Hazard Statements	H300-H330-H373-H413
Hazard Codes	N/A
Precautionary Statements	P260-P284-P301+P310-P320-P405-P501
Flash Point	N/A
Risk Codes	N/A
Safety Statements	N/A
RTECS Number	N/A
Transport Information	NONH
WGK Germany	3
GHS Pictograms

Packaging Specifications

• Standard packaging: 50 kg/drum, 500 kg/pallet, ton bags
• Sample packaging: 500 g/bag, 1 kg/bottle

About Tellurium
Tellurium is extracted from tellurium-bearing anode slime obtained during copper electrolysis. The slime is roasted and treated with alkali to produce a crude tellurite solution (pH >10.8). Sodium sulfide is then added to precipitate lead, copper, silver, and iron as sulfides, which are removed by filtration. The filtrate is neutralized with hydrochloric acid to precipitate tellurium dioxide (TeO₂). After filtration, the TeO₂ is dissolved in 6 mol/L hydrochloric acid (tellurium concentration of 200 g/L) and heated to 90°C. Hydroxylamine hydrochloride (13 g per liter of solution) is added to precipitate and remove selenium impurities. Sulfur dioxide gas (washed with water and dilute sulfuric acid) is then bubbled through the solution to precipitate tellurium. The tellurium is filtered, washed, dried, and further purified via sodium polysulfide extraction to obtain the final tellurium product.