Metallurgy of the indium

Indium, the 49th element in Mendeleyev's periodic table, is a malleable metal that resembles silver. It is a by-product of zinc, lead, copper and tin metallurgies. Its economy is associated with its main applications in the electronics industry. The balance of supply and demand is always precarious, due to the variety of sources, changing sectors of application and the activity of speculators.

Indium production and refining techniques are largely hydrometallurgical. Their flexibility enables them to be adapted to the treatment of residues containing indium, whose composition differs over time depending on the supply of Zn, Pb, Cu and Sn to smelters. Indeed, indium content varies widely from one ore to another.

Marketable indium content is achieved by combined leaching, carburizing and electrorefining operations.