METHOD FOR LIQUEFYING NIOBIUM AND TANTALUM, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING NIOBIUM SOLUTION AND TANTALUM SOLUTION

• Main Authors: NISHIDA Takuto, KUBO Hironari, MASUDA Sayaka
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.09.2023
• Subjects: CHEMISTRY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; METALLURGY; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS; PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS

[Problem] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a treatment for safely and efficiently liquefying niobium and tantalum from a smelting raw material containing niobium and tantalum, or a method for liquefying niobium and tantalum by which a niobium solution and a tantalum solution can be produced, and to provide a method for producing a niobium solution and a tantalum solution. [Solution] Ammonium hydrogen sulfate is mixed as a reaction agent into a powered substance containing at least one element selected from niobium and tantalum, the mixture is melted under prescribed conditions, and a molten substance is produced. A suspension produced by dissolving the solidified molten substance in an aqueous solution is subjected to solid-liquid separation, and a precipitate is recovered. The precipitate comprises niobium and tantalum with minimal impurities, and the precipitate is dissolved by one type of acid solution selected from hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, or nitric acid, and thereby 90% or more of the niobium and tantalum can be extracted.