Perfect 👍 — next in **periodic table order** is **Niobium (Nb, atomic number 41).**
Niobium is a **transition metal** that does **not occur free** in nature. It is primarily obtained from **columbite ((Fe, Mn)Nb₂O₆) and pyrochlore ((Na,Ca)₂Nb₂O₆(OH,F))**. Industrial extraction involves **conversion to niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅)** followed by **reduction to metallic niobium**.
Here are the **20 most common methods of extracting Niobium**:
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# **20 Most Common Methods of Extracting Niobium**
### **A. Extraction from Niobium Minerals**
1. **Acid Digestion of Columbite or Pyrochlore (H₂SO₄ or HCl)** – Produces soluble Nb salts.
2. **Alkaline Fusion of Pyrochlore (NaOH Fusion)** – Converts Nb₂O₅ to soluble sodium niobate.
3. **Leaching with Hydrofluoric Acid (HF)** – Dissolves niobium oxides for further processing.
4. **Precipitation as Ammonium Niobate (NH₄NbO₃)** – Intermediate purification step.
5. **Conversion of NH₄NbO₃ → Nb₂O₅ by Calcination** – Produces niobium pentoxide.
6. **Solvent Extraction of Niobium from Leach Solutions** – Using organophosphorus extractants.
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### **B. Reduction to Metallic Niobium**
7. **Aluminothermic Reduction of Nb₂O₅ → Nb + Al₂O₃** – Laboratory or small-scale industrial method.
8. **Magnesiothermic Reduction of Nb₂O₅ → Nb + MgO** – Laboratory or experimental method.
9. **Reduction of NbCl₅ with Sodium (Na)** – Produces metallic niobium.
10. **Electrolytic Reduction of Molten Nb Compounds** – Produces high-purity niobium metal.
11. **Vacuum Distillation / Refining of Nb Metal** – Purification step.
12. **Carbothermic Reduction of Nb₂O₅ (Nb₂O₅ + C → Nb + CO/CO₂)** – Experimental or specialty method.
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### **C. Extraction from Byproducts / Specialized Sources**
13. **Recovery from Tantalum-Rich Minerals (Columbite-Tantalite)** – Hydrometallurgical separation of Nb from Ta.
14. **Recovery from Tin Mining Tailings** – Niobium as a minor component.
15. **Recovery from Industrial Scrap (Superalloys containing Nb)** – Acid leaching + reduction.
16. **Recovery from Nb-Containing Steel or Alloys** – Chemical separation and reduction.
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### **D. Laboratory / Experimental Methods**
17. **Plasma Reduction of Nb₂O₅ or NbCl₅** – High-purity experimental method.
18. **Solar-Thermal Reduction of Nb₂O₅** – Experimental renewable energy method.
19. **Reduction of Nb Compounds with Calcium or Lithium** – Laboratory metallothermic methods.
20. **Zone Refining of Metallic Niobium** – Produces ultra-high purity niobium for electronics or superconductors.
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✅ **Summary:**
* **Main industrial sources:** Columbite and pyrochlore minerals.
* **Primary extraction steps:** Mineral → acid/alkali digestion → precipitation → Nb₂O₅ → reduction → metallic Nb.
* **Metallic niobium:** Produced via aluminothermic, magnesiothermic, or sodium reduction; Kroll-like processes.
* **Purification:** Vacuum refining, plasma reduction, or zone refining for high-purity applications.
* **Byproduct sources:** Tantalum minerals, tin mining tailings, Nb-containing alloys.
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Next in periodic order is \*\*Molybdenum (Mo, atomic number 42).
Do you want me to continue with **20 extraction methods for Molybdenum**?
