Niobite Processing with Selective Reduction and Super-Gravity Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing pyrometallurgical process for processing low-grade niobite faces challenges such as low metallization rate and niobium loss due to reduction into metallic iron, while hydrometallurgical processes face equipment corrosion and environmental issues, making efficient utilization of niobium resources difficult.
Innovation Solution
A method combining selective reduction in a reduction furnace followed by super-gravity separation in a reactor, where metallic iron and niobium-rich slag are separated at a temperature below niobium oxide reduction, using a coal-based reducing agent and controlled super-gravity conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If one-step reduction melting at high temperature is used in pyrometallurgical process, then the processing efficiency is improved, but the metallization rate of reduced iron is not high and niobium element is reduced to molten iron affecting niobium yield
Solution Approach 1:
The reduction process is divided into two distinct stages: first, selective reduction of iron oxide to metallic iron at controlled temperature; second, separation of metallic iron from niobium-rich slag using super-gravity field. This segmentation prevents niobium reduction while maintaining processing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
A super-gravity separation device is introduced as an intermediary between the reduction furnace and the final products. This device uses super-gravity field to separate metallic iron from niobium-rich slag, preventing niobium loss without affecting processing efficiency.
2Productivity
If wet process with high-concentration hydrofluoric acid is used to decompose niobite, then the decomposition rate is improved, but equipment corrosion and environmental burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wet chemical process using hydrofluoric acid is replaced with a pyrometallurgical process using coal-based reducing agent. The super-gravity separation method substitutes for the chemical extraction process, eliminating equipment corrosion and environmental pollution while maintaining decomposition effectiveness.
3Loss of substance
If selective reduction is performed to separate iron and niobium, then niobium yield is improved, but the separation completeness and product quality need to be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The super-gravity separation device acts as an intermediary that completely separates metallic iron from niobium-rich slag. The super-gravity field provides strong separation force to ensure complete separation and high product quality, maintaining both niobium yield and separation completeness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Achieves high-grade separation of metallic iron and niobium-rich slag, reducing niobium loss and enabling efficient utilization of low-grade niobite resources with simple operation and low costs.
Implementation Method 1
the super-gravity field was introduced for the first time into the separation process of metallic iron and niobium-rich slag of niobite reduction product, thus achieving a complete separation of slag and iron
Implementation Method 2
A coal-based reducing agent is added to the niobite and uniformly mixed, and the mixture is subsequently reduced in a reduction furnace to obtain the selective reduction product
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an equipment for comprehensive utilization of niobite is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: S1. adding and uniformly mixing a coal-based reducing agent to the niobite, and subsequently reducing the mixture in a reduction furnace to obtain the selective reduction product; S2. adding the selective reduction product to a super-gravity reactor where the ambient temperature is controlled to be lower than the temperature at which the niobium oxide is reduced; driven by super-gravity, reverse migrating and collecting the metal iron and the niobium-rich slag at different locations in the reactor; discharging the metallic iron tightly attached to the wall of the reactor through an iron discharging port, and discharging the niobium-rich slag enriched to the inner layer of the reactor through a slag discharging port, so that the separation of the metallic iron and the niobium-rich slag is realized in the super-gravity field.