Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which process separates niobium from tantalum during refining?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
niobium processing
Four one-millimetre thick samples of niobium metal foil.
Niobium is separated from tantalum during refining through a liquid-liquid solvent extraction process.12
In this procedure, the tantalum-niobium ore or ferroalloy is first decomposed in hydrofluoric acid to create an acidic aqueous feed solution. An organic solvent, typically methyl isobutyl ketone, is then mixed into the solution. During this extraction, the tantalum is pulled into the organic solution as a fluoride, while the niobium remains in the aqueous residue, known as the raffinate. Once separated, the niobium can be further processed by precipitation and roasting to obtain niobium pentoxide.12