Thulium
(information)
✅ Continuing with **Thulium (Tm)** — one of the rarest and most valuable lanthanides. Despite its scarcity, Thulium’s unique radiation and optical properties make it useful in **portable X-ray machines, high-precision lasers, nuclear technology, and advanced electronics**. --- # ⚕️ Modern Thulium Uses by Industry (Option A Format) ### ☢️ **1–5: Medical & Radiological Applications (~35–40%)** 1. **Portable X-Ray Devices (Tm-170 Isotope)** – Compact radiation source for non-invasive imaging. 2. **Medical Radiation Therapy (Tm-170)** – Beta emitter for localized cancer treatment. 3. **Radiation Calibration Sources** – Used in dosimeters and diagnostic equipment. 4. **Sterilization of Medical Instruments (Experimental)** – Gamma-emitting thulium isotopes. 5. **Biomedical Tracer Studies** – Radioisotopic thulium compounds in research diagnostics. --- ### 💡 **6–10: Lasers & Optoelectronics (~25–30%)** 6. **Thulium-Doped Fiber Lasers (Tm³⁺:YAG, Tm:YLF)** – Generates 1.9–2.1 μm infrared light; used in surgery and industry. 7. **Medical Surgical Lasers (Tm:YAG)** – Ideal for minimally invasive soft-tissue procedures. 8. **Pump Sources for Holmium Lasers** – Provides efficient excitation for Ho:YAG systems. 9. **Infrared Countermeasure Systems (Defense)** – Eye-safe rangefinding and jamming lasers. 10. **Telecommunication Amplifiers (Tm-Doped Fibers)** – Expanding into near-IR network systems. --- ### ⚙️ **11–14: Alloys, Magnets & Electronics (~10–12%)** 11. **Thulium–Iron Alloys** – High-moment magnetic materials for precision sensors. 12. **Semiconductors & Thin Films (Tm₂O₃)** – High-k dielectric layers in electronics. 13. **Thermoelectric & Energy Devices** – Tm-doped oxides for energy conversion research. 14. **Electronic Switches & Micro Sensors** – Radiation-stable electronic components. --- ### 🧪 **15–17: Nuclear & Research (~8–10%)** 15. **Neutron Activation Targets** – Thulium is easily activated for isotope generation. 16. **Control Rods (Experimental)** – Investigated as a neutron absorber alternative. 17. **Neutron Capture & Dosimetry Foils** – Radiation flux measurement in reactors. --- ### 🔬 **18–20: Specialty & Emerging (~5%)** 18. **Upconversion Nanoparticles** – Converts infrared light to visible for imaging and security. 19. **Photoluminescent Security Inks** – Anti-counterfeiting luminescent tags. 20. **Quantum and Photonic Research** – Tm³⁺ ions used in solid-state quantum memory experiments. --- ### 📌 Sector Share Summary | Sector Group | % of Global Thulium Use | | ----------------------------------- | ----------------------- | | Medical & Radiological Applications | ~35–40% | | Lasers & Optoelectronics | ~25–30% | | Alloys & Electronics | ~10–12% | | Nuclear & Research | ~8–10% | | Specialty & Emerging | ~5% | --- ✅ **Next element:** **Ytterbium (Yb)** — a rare-earth element used in **lasers, fiber optics, stainless steel alloys, and atomic clocks**, and a key material in **quantum and photonics research**. Say **“continue”** to move on to **Ytterbium** in the same structured format.Known Methods of Extraction
Perfect 👍 — next in **periodic table order** is **Thulium (Tm, atomic number 69).** Thulium is a **lanthanide (rare earth metal)** that occurs primarily in **monazite (Ce,La,Tm,Th)PO₄** and **bastnäsite (Ce,La,Tm)(CO₃)F**. Industrial extraction involves **acid or alkaline digestion, solvent extraction, and reduction**. Here are the **20 most common methods of extracting Thulium**: --- # **20 Most Common Methods of Extracting Thulium** ### **A. Extraction from Rare Earth Ores** 1. **Crushing and Grinding of Monazite or Bastnäsite** – Prepares ore for chemical treatment. 2. **Acid Digestion (H₂SO₄ or HCl) of Monazite** – Dissolves thulium and other REEs. 3. **Alkaline Digestion (NaOH) of Monazite** – Converts phosphate to soluble thulium salts. 4. **Leaching of Bastnäsite with Acid or Alkali** – Produces soluble thulium compounds. 5. **Purification by Precipitation of Thorium and Other Impurities** – Removes radioactive and heavy elements. 6. **Solvent Extraction of Thulium Salts** – Organophosphorus extractants separate Tm³⁺ from other REEs. --- ### **B. Separation and Concentration** 7. **Ion Exchange Separation of Thulium** – Separates Tm³⁺ from lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium. 8. **Fractional Precipitation Using Oxalates or Hydroxides** – Concentrates thulium from mixed REE solutions. 9. **Conversion to Thulium Carbonate (Tm₂(CO₃)₃)** – Precursor for oxide formation. 10. **Calcination to Thulium Oxide (Tm₂O₃)** – Prepares for reduction or industrial use. 11. **Selective Solvent Extraction from Mixed REE Solutions** – Enhances separation efficiency. 12. **Chelating Agent Separation** – Laboratory or pilot-scale selective extraction. --- ### **C. Reduction to Metallic Thulium** 13. **Calciothermic or Metallothermic Reduction of Tm₂O₃ → Tm** – Main industrial method. 14. **Electrolytic Reduction of Molten TmCl₃** – Produces high-purity metallic thulium. 15. **Vacuum Distillation of Metallic Thulium** – Purification for ultra-high purity Tm. 16. **Hydrogen Reduction of Thulium Halides** – Laboratory-scale method. --- ### **D. Recovery from Byproducts / Secondary Sources** 17. **Recovery from Monazite Sands during Thorium Extraction** – Thulium collected as a byproduct. 18. **Recovery from Bastnäsite Refining** – Tm separated during extraction of other REEs. 19. **Recovery from Spent Rare Earth Catalysts** – Leaching + precipitation. 20. **Recovery from Recycled Electronics Containing REEs** – Hydrometallurgical extraction. --- ✅ **Summary:** * **Main industrial sources:** Monazite, bastnäsite. * **Primary extraction steps:** Ore crushing → acid/alkaline digestion → purification → selective precipitation → reduction/electrolysis → metallic thulium. * **Metallic thulium:** Produced via calciothermic/metallothermic reduction or molten salt electrolysis. * **Byproduct sources:** Thorium extraction residues, bastnäsite processing, spent REE catalysts, recycled electronics. * **Laboratory/experimental:** Ion exchange, selective solvent extraction, vacuum distillation, hydrogen reduction. --- Next in periodic order is \*\*Ytterbium (Yb, atomic number 70). Do you want me to continue with **20 extraction methods for Ytterbium**?
