Niobium Oxide and Tantalum Oxide Micro- and Nanostructures Grown Using Material Recovered from Mining Tailings

Belén Sotillo,Lorena Alcaraz,Paloma Fernández,Félix López,Francisco Alguacil,Olga Rodríguez

doi:10.3390/iec2m-09235

Abstract

Niobium and tantalum-based oxides were recovered from mining tailings. These oxides were used as starting material for growing micro- and nanostructures by the evaporation method. The morphology and crystal structure of the final oxides were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After the thermal treatment, microrods of both oxides were obtained, which presented exotic stoichiometries Nb22O54 and K6Ta10.8O30, respectively.

Highlights

Introduction and Nanostructures Grown UsingTwo main problems faced by the increasingly technological society are the large amount of waste that humans generate and the scarcity of many of the materials used
It is an interesting topic for the scientific community, to develop new technologies to assure the sustainable use of these raw materials, as well as to improve the processes to recover and recycle them
35% (v/v) Cyanex 923® diluted in Solvesso, where niobium and tantalum were extracted into the organic phase with yields of around 98%

Summary

Introduction

Introduction and Nanostructures Grown UsingTwo main problems faced by the increasingly technological society are the large amount of waste that humans generate and the scarcity of many of the materials used. It is an interesting topic for the scientific community, to develop new technologies to assure the sustainable use of these raw materials, as well as to improve the processes to recover and recycle them. Due to their importance in high-tech products and emerging innovations, niobium (Nb) and tantalum (Ta) are included in the 2020-year list of the 30 critical raw materials of the European Union [6]

Methods

Results

Conclusion