Cabot Corporation

Other

Edwin J Bielecki

Roger M Bergman

Karl A Romberger

Bart F Bakke

Brian J Higgins

Charles R Clark

C Edward Mosheim

Martin A Hobin

Umedray L Sheth

Charles R Nippert, Jr

A metallurgical processing system for economically recovering metal values, such as columbium, tantalum, thorium, and uranium from dilute source solids, such as digestion sludges, by a series of steps including:

Recovery of metal values and hydrofluoric acid from tantalum and

Disclosed is a process for dissolving tantalum and/or columbium-containing materials contaminated with alkali metal impurities. The tantalum and columbium materials are digested in a solution comprising hydrofluoric acid and a fluosilicate-containing compound. The alkali metals are reacted to form precipitated fluosilicates, which then can readily be separated.

Process for dissolving tantalum/columbium materials containing alkali

A process for the recovery of columbium values from a columbium-containing aqueous hydrofluoric acid solution. The columbium-containing solution is heated, with agitation, to cause evaporation and hydrolysis, resulting in the formation of a slurry from which columbium oxyfluoride can be separated and recovered.

Process for producing columbium oxyfluoride

A process for converting columbium oxyfluoride (CbO.sub.2 F) to columbium oxide (Cb.sub.2 O.sub.5) comprising heating CbO.sub.2 F under select pyrohydrolysis conditions.

Pyrohydrolysis of columbium oxyfluoride to columbium oxide

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Boyertown, PA, United States of America

Edwin J Bielecki