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What happens to thorium and uranium oxides during ferroniobium production?
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niobium processing
Four one-millimetre thick samples of niobium metal foil.
During the production of ferroniobium via the aluminothermic process, thorium and uranium oxides are treated as gangue impurities. Along with most other impurities present in the pyrochlore concentrate, these oxides enter the molten slag rather than the metallic alloy. Once the exothermic reduction reaction is complete, this slag is tapped off, effectively separating these materials from the final ferroniobium product.1