METHOD FOR COLUMBITE CONCENTRATE PROCESSING Russian patent published in 2016 - IPC C22B34/24 C22B3/06 C22B3/26 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to method of columbite concentrate processing. Method involves development of concentrate with mixture of sulphuric acid and hydrofluoric acid, pulp filtration to separate cake, which is washed and delivered for further processing. Then, collective counterflow extraction of tantalum and niobium from solution containing niobium and tantalum is made using octanol followed with extract washing. This is followed by selective re-extraction of niobium and tantalum, wherein resulted extract of niobium is subject to additional de-tantalizing. These resulted extract are sent for individual processing and decomposition into respective elements. Note here that prior to filtration the pulp is cooled, and before extraction the filtrate is mixed with flushing water. Washing of extract is carried out with a mixture of sulphuric and hydrofluoric acids. Niobium re-extraction is performed with sulphuric acid solution and re-extraction of tantalum - with softened water.

EFFECT: high efficiency of process due to extraction from concentrate of not less than 96 % niobium oxide and tantalum oxide and producing high-quality compounds of niobium and tantalum.

6 cl, 2 dwg, 5 tbl