METHOD OF LOPARITE CONCENTRATE PROCESSING Russian patent published in 2014 - IPC C22B5/10 C22B26/10 C22B34/00 C22B59/00 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method comprises grinding of concentrate and pyrometallurgical break-down of concentrate in two steps. At first step, sodium is subjected to carbothermic reduction from concentrate by sodium evaporation at the pressure p=10-50 Pa, temperature T=1000 K and carbon content with respect to concentrate m_C=2.9 wt %. Sodium vapours are withdrawn from reaction volume and condensed at T=300 K. At second step, further carbothermic reduction of produced enriched concentrate is performed at p=10-50 Pa, temperature T=2000 K and carbon content relative to enriched concentrate m_C=28 wt % with reduction of refractory metal oxides to carbides in condensed phase and transition of rare earth element oxides to gas phase. Said phase is withdrawn from reaction volume and condensed at T=300 K.

EFFECT: higher yield of sodium, rare earth elements and refractory metals without application of harmful reagents.

1 dwg