Treatment of tantalum- and/or niobium-containing compounds

US9206056B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Limited · ZA

Inventors

• Pieter Andries Blatt Carstens · Randburg, ZA
• Jacobus Beyers Wagener · Roodepoort, ZA
• Andrew Dirk Pienaar · Centurion, ZA

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 1, 2011
• Grant date: Dec 8, 2015
• Expiry date: Jun 13, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/20
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for treating a feedstock comprising tantalum- and/or niobium-containing compounds is provided. The process includes contacting the feedstock with a gaseous fluorinating agent, thereby to fluorinate tantalum and/or niobium present in the feedstock compounds. The resultant fluorinated tantalum and/or niobium compounds are recovered.