Simulation to Recover Niobium and Tantalum from the Tin Slags of the Old Penouta Mine: A Case Study
Demand for niobium and tantalum is increasing exponentially as these are essential ingredients for the manufacture of, among others, capacitors in technological devices and ferroniobium. Mine tailings rich in such elements could constitute an important source of Nb and Ta in the future and alleviate...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/10/1123 |
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| author | Ricardo Magdalena Alicia Valero Guiomar Calvo Francisco J. Alguacil Félix Antonio López |
| author_facet | Ricardo Magdalena Alicia Valero Guiomar Calvo Francisco J. Alguacil Félix Antonio López |
| author_sort | Ricardo Magdalena |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Demand for niobium and tantalum is increasing exponentially as these are essential ingredients for the manufacture of, among others, capacitors in technological devices and ferroniobium. Mine tailings rich in such elements could constitute an important source of Nb and Ta in the future and alleviate potential supply risks. This paper evaluates the possibility of recovering niobium and tantalum from the slags generated during the tin beneficiation process of mine tailings from the old Penouta mine, located in Spain. To do so, a simulation of the processes required to beneficiate and refine both elements is carried out. After carbothermic tin reduction, the slags are sent to a hydrometallurgical process where niobium oxide and tantalum oxide are obtained at the end. Reagents, water, and energy consumption, in addition to emissions, effluents, and product yields, are assessed. Certain factors were identified as critical, and recirculation was encouraged in the model to maximise production and minimise reagents’ use and wastes. With this simulation, considering 3000 production hours per year, the metal output from the tailings of the old mine could cover around 1% and 7.4% of the world annual Nb and Ta demand, respectively. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:21:17Z |
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| id | doaj.art-a1584295976a499b82f85332f7e91ba7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:21:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1584295976a499b82f85332f7e91ba72023-11-22T19:17:12ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2021-10-011110112310.3390/min11101123Simulation to Recover Niobium and Tantalum from the Tin Slags of the Old Penouta Mine: A Case StudyRicardo Magdalena0Alicia Valero1Guiomar Calvo2Francisco J. Alguacil3Félix Antonio López4Campus Rio Ebro. C/Mariano Esquillor Gómez, CIRCE Institute, Universidad de Zaragoza, 15, 50018 Zaragoza, SpainCampus Rio Ebro. C/Mariano Esquillor Gómez, CIRCE Institute, Universidad de Zaragoza, 15, 50018 Zaragoza, SpainCampus Rio Ebro. C/Mariano Esquillor Gómez, CIRCE Institute, Universidad de Zaragoza, 15, 50018 Zaragoza, SpainCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Metalúrgicas (CENIM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda. Gregorio del Amo, 8, 28040 Madrid, SpainCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Metalúrgicas (CENIM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda. Gregorio del Amo, 8, 28040 Madrid, SpainDemand for niobium and tantalum is increasing exponentially as these are essential ingredients for the manufacture of, among others, capacitors in technological devices and ferroniobium. Mine tailings rich in such elements could constitute an important source of Nb and Ta in the future and alleviate potential supply risks. This paper evaluates the possibility of recovering niobium and tantalum from the slags generated during the tin beneficiation process of mine tailings from the old Penouta mine, located in Spain. To do so, a simulation of the processes required to beneficiate and refine both elements is carried out. After carbothermic tin reduction, the slags are sent to a hydrometallurgical process where niobium oxide and tantalum oxide are obtained at the end. Reagents, water, and energy consumption, in addition to emissions, effluents, and product yields, are assessed. Certain factors were identified as critical, and recirculation was encouraged in the model to maximise production and minimise reagents’ use and wastes. With this simulation, considering 3000 production hours per year, the metal output from the tailings of the old mine could cover around 1% and 7.4% of the world annual Nb and Ta demand, respectively.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/10/1123coltanniobiumtantalumcritical raw materialstechnological metalsmineral processing |
| spellingShingle | Ricardo Magdalena Alicia Valero Guiomar Calvo Francisco J. Alguacil Félix Antonio López Simulation to Recover Niobium and Tantalum from the Tin Slags of the Old Penouta Mine: A Case Study Minerals coltan niobium tantalum critical raw materials technological metals mineral processing |
| title | Simulation to Recover Niobium and Tantalum from the Tin Slags of the Old Penouta Mine: A Case Study |
| title_full | Simulation to Recover Niobium and Tantalum from the Tin Slags of the Old Penouta Mine: A Case Study |
| title_fullStr | Simulation to Recover Niobium and Tantalum from the Tin Slags of the Old Penouta Mine: A Case Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simulation to Recover Niobium and Tantalum from the Tin Slags of the Old Penouta Mine: A Case Study |
| title_short | Simulation to Recover Niobium and Tantalum from the Tin Slags of the Old Penouta Mine: A Case Study |
| title_sort | simulation to recover niobium and tantalum from the tin slags of the old penouta mine a case study |
| topic | coltan niobium tantalum critical raw materials technological metals mineral processing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/10/1123 |
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