METHOD FOR PROCESSING LEAN TANTALUM-NIOBIUM CONCENTRATES Russian patent published in 2023 - IPC C22B34/24 C22B5/04 C22B4/06 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to methods for processing rare metal raw materials with the extraction of rare metals and can be used in the processing of poor tantalum-niobium concentrates to obtain Ta-Nb products suitable for the production of metals - niobium and tantalum using traditional technologies. Reductive melting of the charge comprising initial concentrate mixed with basic flux, iron oxide and reducing agent is carried out with transfer of rare refractory metals into iron-based alloy. As a reducing agent, a calcium-aluminium master alloy of the composition Al:Ca 1:(2.1-2.4) is used in an amount of 8-10% by weight of the starting material. In this case, melting is carried out at a temperature of 1600-1650°C.

EFFECT: increased extraction of rare refractory metals into an iron-based alloy, reduced consumption of a reducing agent while reducing power consumption.

2 cl, 1 tbl