Recovery of Tantalum from Different Resources

Tantalum is used in the electronics industry to produce electrolytic capacitors, which are found in every electronic device, defense and space equipment. It is used in the production of chemical equipment due to its resistance to most acids and bases. On the one hand, it is widely used in industry and its numerous branches and on the other hand in jewelry or watchmaking products [1]. As a result, it is not uncommon for this metal to become an object of interest for a variety of buyers. After it has been bought back from the customers, tantalum can be recycled and, as a result, its full content can be retrieved [2]. The major use for Tantalum, as the metal powder, is in the production of electronic components, mainly capacitors and some high-power resistors [3]. Tantalum electrolytic capacitors exploit the tendency of tantalum to form a protective oxide surface layer, using tantalum powder, pressed into a pellet shape, as one “plate” of the capacitor, the oxide as the dielectric, and an electrolytic solution or conductive solid as the other “plate” [4]. Tantalum is used in a variety of alloys to add high strength, ductility and a high melting point. When drawn into a fine wire, it’s used as a filament for evaporating metals such as aluminum. More than half of tantalum’s use is for electrolytic capacitors and vacuum furnace parts. The exceptional properties of Ta have led to a high demand for these metal for highly specialized applications (Fig. 1). The main application as already was mentioned is capacitors. In addition, there are super alloys or sputtering targets [5]. Capacitors are, and are expected to remain, the largest single market but the increasing functionality of RECOVERY OF TANTALUM FROM DIFFERENT RESOURCES