Study on solubility of Nb₂O₅ in KOH solution and alkali leaching of niobite

Abstract

Solubility of Nb₂O₅ and leaching behaviors of Nb and Ta from niobite in KOH solution have been investigated in order to develop an alkali hydrothermal leaching process of Nb and Ta. The solubility of Nb₂O₅ was measured in the range of 40 °C to 200 °C at various molar ratios of K₂O to Nb₂O₅(n(K₂O)/n(Nb₂O₅). It has been found that Nb₂O₅ shows the maximum solubility at the solution composition of n(K₂O)/n(Nb₂O₅)=4/3 at a given temperature; the rise of temperature increases the solubility of Nb₂O₅ below 120 °C, but decreases it above 120 °C. The leaching behaviors of Nb and Ta were studied in the range of 150 °C to 250 °C and 0.1 MPa to 5 MPa. With the rise of temperature, the leaching degree increases when the leaching temperature is below 200 °C, but it decreases when the leaching temperature is above 200 °C. The maximum leaching degree is about 90% at 200 °C. It was proved that the alkali hydrothermal leaching process is effective for the recovery of Nb and Ta from niobite concentrate.

Keywords

niobium / solubility / alkali leaching

References

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