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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

EXTRACTIVE METALLURGY OF EUXENITE

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4189410
Results of this study demonstrate that multiple-oxide minerals can be processed to usable compounds by the techniques described. The chlorination procedure offers an efficient method for extracting tantalum, niobium, uranium, titanium, thorium, and the rare-earth elements from their ores. Separation of the chloride products into four groups is of additional benefit for processing materials such as euxenite. The solvent-extraction system used for continuous separation of tantalum and niobium yields pure compounds of the two metals. Conditions used for the hydrometallurgical processing of the residue from the chlorination and of the chloride eutectic were determined in laboratory scale tests and then applied to the large-scale run. Recovery and purity of the products of the large-scale run were not as satisfactory as small-scale tests had ladicated would be possible. However, the general procedures were adequate for the processing, and probably the recovery and purity of products would be improved considerably under optimum conditions for large-scale processing. (auth)
Research Organization:
Bureau of Mines
NSA Number:
NSA-14-001562
OSTI ID:
4189410
Report Number(s):
BM-RI-5531
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English