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Extraction of Tungsten from Wolframite Sample Using Ammonium Phosphate Salt as Flux

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Abstract

Extraction of tungsten from wolframite ore (Fe, Mn)WO4 was achieved using ammonium phosphate salt as flux. The supplied ore was predominantly composed of iron-rich endmember called ferberite (FeWO4) and other minor phases identified as quartz and elsmoreite. Fusion of the wolframite ore sample (ratio 1:25) yielded an unstable acidic solution (pH ~ 1.3) containing tungstophosphoric acid that decomposed to a gray precipitate (1.2–1.4 g) containing a mixtures of tungsten phosphates (PW8O26, WOPO4, and PW12O38.5) and tungsten oxide (WO2 and WO3). SEM-EDS analysis of the precipitate shows significant amounts of tungsten, W (18.24 wt.%), P (29.24 wt.%), and O (42.23 wt.%) as phosphate, and other elements, such as Si (7.30 wt.%) and Al (2.4 wt.%), as impurities. ICP-OES analysis showed trace amounts of tungsten (WO3, 0.54%) in the remaining filtrate solution with varying amounts of FeO (20.42%), MnO (1.64%), MgO (0.42%), CaO (0.21%), Al2O3 (0.09%), and SiO3 (0.07%).

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Acknowledgement

The author would like to thank the Research Fund of the University of the Free State, South Africa for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Groundwater Studies, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

    Trevor T. Chiweshe & Lore-Mari Deysel

  2. Geology Department, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

    Megan Welman-Purchase

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  1. Trevor T. Chiweshe
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  2. Megan Welman-Purchase
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Correspondence to Trevor T. Chiweshe.

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Chiweshe, T.T., Welman-Purchase, M. & Deysel, LM. Extraction of Tungsten from Wolframite Sample Using Ammonium Phosphate Salt as Flux. JOM 74, 283–292 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-021-05021-1

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