Tellurium Te · 99.9% – 99.999% · Ingot · Granule · Powder
A US critical mineral and the metalloid behind cadmium telluride thin-film solar — supplied as ingot, granule or powder from 99.9% (3N) to 99.999% (5N).
Chelora Chemicals is a tellurium supplier and sourcing partner serving thin-film solar, alloy and thermoelectric producers across the United States, with a batch COA and SDS on every consignment.
- CAS Number
- 13494-80-9
- EC Number
- 236-813-4
- Element symbol
- Te
- Atomic number
- 52
- Atomic weight
- 127.60
- Purity grades
- 3N · 4N · 5N
- Forms supplied
- Ingot · granule · powder
- Melting point
- 449.5 °C
- HS Code
- 2804 50
Note: tellurium is a by-product metal with concentrated supply — global output is tied to copper refining, so availability moves with copper, not with tellurium demand. Powder forms may carry a transport classification that ingot does not; confirm per form with your regulatory affairs team.
From copper refining to thin-film solar
Tellurium is not mined for its own sake. Almost all of it is recovered from the anode slimes left behind when copper is electrolytically refined — which is why supply tracks copper output.
Supply reality: roughly one tonne of tellurium per 100,000 tonnes of refined copper · US domestic recovery restarted at Rio Tinto Kennecott in Utah in 2022, supplying CdTe module production
What tellurium is used for
Tellurium is a silvery-white brittle metalloid supplied as ingot, lump, granule or powder. It sits below selenium in group 16, conducts poorly as a pure element, and forms the semiconductor compounds that carry almost all of its commercial value.
The largest and fastest-growing use is cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaics, the dominant US-manufactured alternative to crystalline silicon. Beyond that it is added in small fractions to free-machining steel and copper alloys to break up chips and raise machining speed, used in bismuth telluride thermoelectrics for cooling and waste-heat recovery, and used as a rubber vulcanization accelerator and in specialty catalysts.
Purity grades we quote against
- 99.9% (3N). Metallurgical grade for free-machining steel and copper alloy additions.
- 99.99% (4N). The working grade for most thermoelectric and chemical applications.
- 99.999% (5N) and above. Semiconductor and thin-film photovoltaic duty, where trace metals are specified in ppm.
- Forms. Ingot and lump for remelt, granule and shot for dosing, powder for sintering and compounding.
Handling character
Tellurium is harmful if inhaled as dust or fume and produces a persistent garlic odor on the breath after exposure. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Silvery-white brittle metal |
| Te assay | 99.99% min |
| Selenium (Se) | 10 ppm max |
| Copper (Cu) | 5 ppm max |
| Lead (Pb) | 5 ppm max |
| Iron (Fe) | 5 ppm max |
| Form | Per agreed ingot, granule or powder specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Brittle crystalline metalloid |
| Melting point | 449.5 °C |
| Boiling point | 988 °C |
| Density | 6.24 g/cm³ |
| Atomic number | 52 |
| Crystal structure | Hexagonal |
| Water solubility | Insoluble |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 13494-80-9 and rounded for readability. Trace specifications vary by grade — treat the table as orientation, not as a specification.
Where US industry puts tellurium to work
Thin-film solar, machinable alloys, thermoelectrics and rubber chemistry.
CdTe thin-film photovoltaics
Alloyed with cadmium into the absorber layer of thin-film solar modules — the largest and fastest-growing use, and the one driving US domestic recovery.
- 5N and higher purity
- Trace metals specified in ppm
- Technical desk review on request
Free-machining steel & copper alloys
Added in fractions of a percent to break up chips, extend tool life and raise machining speed in bar stock and brass.
- 3N metallurgical grade
- Ingot and granule for dosing
- Documented batch traceability
Thermoelectric materials
Bismuth telluride and related compounds for solid-state cooling, waste-heat recovery and precision temperature control.
- 4N and 5N grades
- Granule and powder forms
- Retained sample held against the lot
Rubber vulcanization
A vulcanization accelerator that raises heat resistance in specialty rubber compounds.
- Powder grade to your mesh
- Full analytical documentation
- Trial quantities for qualification
Catalysts & specialty chemistry
Feedstock for tellurium compounds used in oxidation catalysts, glass tinting and specialty chemical synthesis.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Grade matched to your synthesis
- Second source held in reserve
Contract & scheduled supply
With supply tied to copper output, contracted tonnage and a call-off calendar matter more on this line than most.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price mechanism agreed up front
- Second source held in reserve
Delivered to US plants and ports
We ship tellurium to nominated delivery points across the United States. The regions below are destinations we serve — Chelora Chemicals is a sourcing and supply partner, not a US manufacturer, and does not hold US stock.
Gulf Coast
The largest US chemical cluster, and the usual entry point for bulk consignments.
- Houston & Galveston, TX
- New Orleans & Baton Rouge, LA
- Mobile, AL
Northeast
Container and bulk delivery into the mid-Atlantic and New England manufacturing belt.
- Newark & Elizabeth, NJ
- Philadelphia, PA
- Boston, MA
Southeast
Port-side delivery for the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida processing plants.
- Savannah, GA
- Charleston, SC
- Jacksonville, FL & Norfolk, VA
Midwest & Great Lakes
Inland rail and truck forwarding from the nearest coastal port to the industrial Midwest.
- Chicago, IL
- Detroit, MI
- Cleveland & Columbus, OH
West Coast
Pacific routing for West Coast processors and formulators.
- Los Angeles & Long Beach, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Seattle & Tacoma, WA
Southwest & Mountain
Inland delivery to interior states, forwarded from the Gulf or Pacific gateway.
- Dallas–Fort Worth, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Denver, CO
Importing into the United States
Tellurium is a TSCA-regulated chemical substance. Under TSCA section 13 the importer of record, or its authorized agent, must certify to US Customs and Border Protection that each shipment either complies with TSCA or is not subject to it. We confirm the substance's TSCA Inventory status and agree in writing who files that certification before the first consignment moves.
Which party carries that duty follows the Incoterm. On FOB, CFR or CIF terms it is usually the US buyer; on DDP terms it can be the seller or its agent. Safety data sheets and labels are supplied to OSHA's updated Hazard Communication Standard, and the form-specific (powder may be regulated) transport documentation is prepared before booking.
| Item | How it works |
|---|---|
| Delivery points | Any nominated US plant, terminal or port of discharge |
| Incoterms quoted | FOB · CFR · CIF · DDP |
| Importer of record | Agreed in writing before the first shipment |
| TSCA certification | Section 13 positive certification filed at entry |
| Documentation | Batch COA, SDS, packing list, certificate of origin |
| Pack formats | Sealed drums, pails or inner-lined cases |
Note: regional coverage describes where we deliver, not where we hold inventory. Lead time depends on producer scheduling and ocean transit to your nominated US port — we confirm both in the quotation.
How we supply tellurium
Chelora Chemicals is a tellurium supplier and sourcing partner, not a producer. This is a by-product metal with concentrated, inelastic supply — world output is governed by how much copper is being refined, not by what tellurium buyers want. That changes how the line has to be managed.
We place your order with whichever qualified refiner best matches your purity grade, your form and your delivery window, and confirm US import requirements before booking.
Because the market is thin, we recommend contracted tonnage with scheduled call-off rather than spot buying on this product, and we keep a second qualified source wherever the grade allows.
- Purity grade and trace profile confirmed before we quote. 4N and 5N are different materials commercially; the ppm table is part of the order, not an afterthought.
- Form specified up front. Ingot, granule and powder are priced and classified differently, and a remelt operation and a sintering line do not want the same thing.
- Supply reality stated honestly. Tellurium tracks copper refining, so we tell you what lead times actually look like rather than quoting an optimistic one.
- TSCA status and import certification settled first. We confirm Inventory status and agree who files the section 13 certification before the first shipment.
- Transport classified per form. Powder may carry a classification that ingot does not, so the paperwork follows the form you actually ordered.
- Batch traceability to the refining source. Full chain of custody documentation on request — which matters for critical-mineral provenance.
Sealed, moisture-protected and traceable
Drums, pails or lined cases — tell us the form and grade and we will quote and classify to it.
50 kg & 100 kg steel drums
Sealed drums with inner liner for ingot, lump and granule quantities.
Inner-lined cases
Partitioned cases for ingot, protecting the brittle metal from impact in transit.
Small sealed units
Sealed pails and jars for powder and high-purity grades where contamination must be excluded.
Qualification samples
Small quantities dispatched for assay verification and process qualification before a commercial order.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Scheduled call-off
Reserved tonnage released against your consumption calendar, the preferred arrangement on a thin market.
Low acute hazard, but the dust matters
Tellurium metal in massive form is comparatively low hazard. The issues arise with dust, fume and fines — generated in cutting, grinding, melting or handling powder. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H332Harmful if inhaled.H373May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.H412Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Tellurium breath. Even small absorbed doses are metabolized to dimethyl telluride, producing a persistent and powerful garlic odor on the breath and sweat that can last for weeks. It is an unmistakable early indicator of exposure rather than a hazard in itself — treat its appearance in a worker as a signal to review controls immediately.
Storage
Store in sealed containers in a dry, well-ventilated area away from strong oxidizers, strong acids and halogens. Keep powder and fines separated from ignition sources and avoid conditions that allow dust to accumulate or become airborne.
Handling
Handle massive forms with gloves and eye protection. For powder, fines and any operation that cuts, grinds or melts the metal, use local exhaust ventilation and respiratory protection, and control dust accumulation. Avoid generating fume; wash before eating and at the end of shift.
Transport
Classification depends on the form. Ingot and lump are generally not regulated as dangerous goods, while powder may be classified as a toxic metal powder. We confirm and document the exact classification, approved packaging and routing for the specific form and destination on your order.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Grade and form agreed
Purity grade, the ppm trace table and the physical form confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Refiner batch assay
The refining source assays each lot against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS, TSCA certification data and form-specific transport paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its refining source, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
Where tellurium comes from
Tellurium is a by-product metal. It is not mined on its own anywhere at scale. Almost all primary supply is recovered from the anode slimes that settle out during the electrolytic refining of copper, where tellurium concentrates alongside selenium, gold and silver. Those slimes are roasted, leached and the tellurium separated and refined to grade.
The yield is small — on the order of one tonne of tellurium for every hundred thousand tonnes of refined copper — which is the single most important commercial fact about this market. Output is set by copper refining volumes, not by tellurium demand, so a surge in thin-film solar capacity cannot simply pull more metal out of the ground.
That structural tightness is why tellurium appears on the US critical minerals list and why domestic recovery restarted at Rio Tinto Kennecott in Utah in 2022, specifically to feed US cadmium telluride module production. For buyers it argues for contracted tonnage over spot purchasing.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Material type | By-product metalloid, group 16 |
|---|---|
| Primary source | Anode slimes from electrolytic copper refining |
| Typical yield | ≈ 1 t Te per 100,000 t refined copper |
| Purity grades | 99.9% (3N) · 99.99% (4N) · 99.999% (5N) |
| Forms | Ingot, lump, granule, powder |
| Downstream | CdTe photovoltaics, free-machining alloys, thermoelectrics |
Other industrial materials from the same desk
Minor metals, process chemicals and the mineral acids used in refining and leaching.
Tellurium, answered
What is tellurium used for?
Where does tellurium come from?
Why is tellurium supply so tight?
Is tellurium a US critical mineral?
What purity grades do you supply?
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Do you supply tellurium in the United States?
Do you produce or refine this yourself?
Get a quote on tellurium
Send us your required purity grade, trace specification, form, annual volume and US delivery point. We will come back with a firm quote, a realistic lead time and full documentation — and can structure contracted tonnage against your call-off calendar.
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