A NEW METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF NIOBIUM AND TANTALUM

The ferro-alloys of niobium and tantalum have come to be used frequently in adding them to steels. The determination of niobium and tantalum in the ferro- alloys. as well as in the steels. has thus become a problem for the steelmaker. Existing chemical methods for separation of the Nb- Ta group and for separation of the two are long. dlfficult. and delicate. Research is reported on simplification of the problem. A method was sought which involved simple determination of Ta + Nb first and then the proportions of the two elements. In addition to its application in chemical analysis. the method should be of use in the metallurgy of treatment of tantalum and niobium ores to obtain a very pure mixture of the two. (T.R.H.)