Tantalum recycling from pyrometallurgical residues (Tantalrecycling aus pyrometallurgischen Rückständen)

An existing pyrometallurgical process for tantalum and niobium recovery, mainly from low grade pyrometallurgical residues, was investigated. Melting experiments were carried out in a pilot-scale electric arc furnace to study the material system during the reduction process caused by blowing coke into the liquid mineral melt. During the pyrometallurgical treatment refractory metals such as tantalum and niobium are converted into their carbides and enriched in the molten iron-based metal phase.Titanium is also enriched in the metal phase as an unwanted accompanying element, but most of it remains in oxidic form in the slag and is mainly bound in the mineral perovskite. Cooled down slag samples were analysed using XRF, XRD, SEM and EDX to investigate the formation of mineral phases rich in tantalum during various stages of the reduction process. The results show that the settling of the tantalum-rich iron droplets in the molten slag into the metal phase may play a greater role for the kinetics than the actual reduction reaction caused by blowing in coke.