ABSTRACT

Recent technological and industrial developments in applications of Nb as well as its demand by aviation, communication, electronics, atomic and nuclear energy, metallurgical and steel industries has increased significantly over the years. This has made Nb a critical metal, very strategic and of a high demand. Recovery of Nb from its mineral deposits is dependent on the extractive metallurgy of refractory metals from complex oxide ores. Based on the efficiency of ore concentration and metal extraction, Nb recovery has encountered various challenges. In this regard, new and existing procedures for Nb recovery are reviewed. This review includes evaluation of different ore concentrations, such as the extensive study of Nb mineral separations and flotation; as well as hydrometallurgical extractions of Nb using various extractants. Hitherto, the mineralogy of various Nb deposits with respect to their separation measures and possibilities is also covered in this context. Realization of Nb recovery through solvent extraction, stripping and precipitation is described with comparison of industrially used reagents. This review therefore focuses on investigations of effective/efficient mineral beneficiation process route and also substitution of the conventional dissolution of Nb deposits. Thus, the examination of process applications, challenges and recommendations for future development trend in the extractive metallurgy of Nb from mineral sources. This will serve as a tool to comprehend and put forward the mitigation of existing problems involved in mineral dissolution, separation and Nb recovery.

摘要

近年来，铌应用的技术和工业发展以及航空、通讯、电子、原子能和核能、冶金和钢铁工业对铌的需求显着增加。这使得铌成为一种关键金属，非常具有战略意义并且需求量很大。从其矿床中回收 Nb 依赖于从复杂氧化物矿石中提取难熔金属的冶金方法。基于矿石浓缩和金属提取的效率，铌回收遇到了各种挑战。在这方面，回顾了新的和现有的 Nb 回收程序。这篇综述包括对不同矿石浓度的评价，例如对铌矿物分离和浮选的广泛研究；以及使用各种萃取剂对 Nb 进行湿法冶金萃取。迄今为止，本文还介绍了各种 Nb 矿床的矿物学及其分离措施和可能性。通过与工业用试剂的比较，描述了通过溶剂萃取、汽提和沉淀实现铌回收。因此，本综述侧重于研究有效/高效的选矿工艺路线以及替代常规的铌矿床溶解。因此，研究了矿物资源中铌提取冶金的工艺应用、挑战和对未来发展趋势的建议。这将作为一种工具来理解和提出缓解与矿物溶解、分离和铌回收有关的现有问题。