TY - GEN
T1 - Effect of time on formation of phases in the slag during tin production
AU - Ilunga Mutombo, David
AU - Wa Kalenga, Michel Kalenga
AU - Nheta, Willie
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2018 MS&T18®
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Most cassiterite ores contain a certain amount of niobium and tantalum, which report to the slag during tin production. The reduction time is said to enhance the formation of some phases which preferentially dissolve some metals than others. The current paper investigates the effect of time on the phases that form in the slag during reduction and the preferential dissolution of Nobium and Tantalum in some phases. XRD, XRF, SEM-EDS were used to analyse the head sample and the products of the smelting process. The basicity was kept at 1 with the addition of dolomite. Carbon was used as reducing agent and an alumina tube furnace for the reduction. Graphite crucible was used and CO was blown in the furnace to minimise the reaction between the sample and the crucible. Experiments were conducted at different reduction times. The time varied from 30minutes to 2hours with 30 minutes intervals at 1400 o C. Results showed that Nobium and Tantalum are preferentially dissolved in Monticellite, Ferrocolumbite, Fayalite, Tantalum oxide and Niobium oxide, the two oxides reaching 5% in the slag while the purity of metal reached a maximum of 99% of Sn and 1% Fe.
AB - Most cassiterite ores contain a certain amount of niobium and tantalum, which report to the slag during tin production. The reduction time is said to enhance the formation of some phases which preferentially dissolve some metals than others. The current paper investigates the effect of time on the phases that form in the slag during reduction and the preferential dissolution of Nobium and Tantalum in some phases. XRD, XRF, SEM-EDS were used to analyse the head sample and the products of the smelting process. The basicity was kept at 1 with the addition of dolomite. Carbon was used as reducing agent and an alumina tube furnace for the reduction. Graphite crucible was used and CO was blown in the furnace to minimise the reaction between the sample and the crucible. Experiments were conducted at different reduction times. The time varied from 30minutes to 2hours with 30 minutes intervals at 1400 o C. Results showed that Nobium and Tantalum are preferentially dissolved in Monticellite, Ferrocolumbite, Fayalite, Tantalum oxide and Niobium oxide, the two oxides reaching 5% in the slag while the purity of metal reached a maximum of 99% of Sn and 1% Fe.
KW - Cassiterite
KW - Nb-Ta
KW - Reduction time
KW - Smelting
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85060229466&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.7449/2018/MST_2018_1089_1097
DO - 10.7449/2018/MST_2018_1089_1097
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85060229466
T3 - Materials Science and Technology 2018, MS and T 2018
SP - 1089
EP - 1097
BT - Materials Science and Technology 2018, MS and T 2018
PB - Association for Iron and Steel Technology, AISTECH
T2 - Materials Science and Technology 2018, MS and T 2018
Y2 - 14 October 2018 through 18 October 2018
ER -