TITLE:
A Review of Niobium-Tantalum Separation in Hydrometallurgy
AUTHORS:
Olushola S. Ayanda, Folahan A. Adekola
KEYWORDS:
Niobium, Tantalum, Columbite, Tantalite, Solvent extractant and Solvent extraction.
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.10 No.3,
March
5,
2011
ABSTRACT: Niobium and tantalum are chemically similar and are associated with each other in nature
which makes it very difficult to separate. For many years, the separation of tantalum from
niobium involved the fractional crystallization of potassium heptafluorotantalate away from
potassium oxypentafluoroniobate monohydrate, this method has been supplanted by solvent
extraction from fluoride-containing solutions by the use of solvent extractants such as Octanol,
bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (DEHPA), Alamine 336, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), tri-nbutyl
phosphate (TBP) or cyclohexanone. A detailed review of the various processes involved in
the breakdown treatment of niobium and tantalum primary sources, extraction and separation
and newer processes of extraction as well as the various technique involved were discussed.