Zirconium: production in Russia

Zirconium in its elementary form is a silver-white metal, characterized by such characteristic properties as resistance to corrosion and plasticity. In nature, it is quite common, but at the same time it is very scattered. Large deposits of it have not been found so far. People first learned about the possibility of the existence of this metal in 1789. Then the chemist M. Klaprot accidentally discovered his oxide during the investigation of the zircon mineral. In pure form, this metal was obtained only in 1925. In the modern world, zirconium, the production of which is widely used, is used in a variety of industries. Of course, many domestic enterprises are also involved in its production.

general description

Unusual properties are what is primarily determined by the industrial value of a relatively rare metal, such as zirconium. Its production is beneficial for the national economy due to:

1. High degree of chemical resistance. Hydrochloric acid on this metal produces absolutely no action, and with sulfuric it reacts only at its concentration of not less than 50% and temperature above +100 degrees.

2. The ability to burn in the air with virtually no smoke. Self-igniting zirconium (finely dispersed) can already at a temperature of 250 ° C.

3. Biological inertia. Zirconium has absolutely no harmful effect on the human body or animals. Advantages, contrary to popular belief, he, unfortunately, also no one can bring.

Very demanded in the industry is not only the actual metal itself, but its compounds. The zircon mineral, for example, is distinguished by a very high hardness and a pleasant diamond gloss. Therefore, it is sometimes used as a cheap substitute for diamonds. However, in recent years zircon has been used less and less in jewelry. Currently, imitation diamonds are often made of cubic zirconia (cubic zirconia).

Where to use

The production of zirconium at the moment is one of the most important spheres of the metallurgical industry. Although it is used in many areas of the national economy (for example, for the manufacture of medical instruments or pyrotechnic devices), it is most often used in water-cooled power reactors at nuclear power plants.

Raw materials for production

The mass fraction of zirconium in the earth's crust due to its absent-mindedness, unfortunately, has not yet been established. According to scientists, it can be 170-250 grams per ton. Actually, the very minerals of zircons in nature there are many. At the moment, scientists know about 40 of their varieties. However, most often only the following raw materials are used for the production of zirconium:

• Baddeleyite;

• Eudialyte;

• zircon.

Large deposits of zircons on the planet, as already mentioned, does not exist. In Russia there are only a few small deposits of similar minerals. They are also mined in countries such as the US, India, Brazil and Australia. The most common mineral of all used to produce zirconium is, of course, zircon (ZrSiO4). In most cases in nature it is accompanied by hafnium.

Zirconium production in Russia: features

In the Russian Federation, the only company that produces this metal at the moment is Chepetsky Mechanical Plant, located in Glazov (Udmurtia). Its first shops were built at the beginning of the Second World War. By 1942 the plant had reached its full design capacity. At that time, cartridges were produced here mostly. In 1946, the enterprise was retrained into a factory for the production of metallic uranium. Later (in 1957) zirconium, and then superconducting metals, calcium and titanium began to be produced here. Today this enterprise is a part of TVEL Corporation, one of the world leaders in nuclear fuel production. Investments in the production of zirconium at CME from TVEL annually amount to billions of rubles. Today this enterprise supplies zirconium to the domestic and world markets:

• Ingots;

• Rods;

• Pipes;

• Wire;

• Sheets;

• Accessories for TVS and TVEL.

Also at the Chepetsk Mechanical Plant, souvenirs made of this metal are made.

Processing of raw materials and preparation of acidic solutions

Zirconium, the production of which is a complex technological process, metal is quite expensive. Manufacturing it begins with cleaning, delivered from deposits, ore. Processing of raw materials usually includes the following operations:

• Enrichment with the gravitational method;

• Purification of the obtained concentrate by electrostatic and magnetic separation;

• Decomposition of the concentrate by chlorination, fusion with caustic soda or fluorosilicate potassium, sintering with lime;

• Leaching with water to remove silicon compounds;

• Decomposition of the residue with sulfuric or hydrochloric acid to produce sulphate or oxychloride.

The fluorosilicate spectrum is treated with acidified water with heating. After cooling the resulting solution, potassium fluorozirconate is released.

Connections

The next stage in the production of zirconium is the preparation of its compounds from acidic solutions. The following technologies can be used for this:

• Crystallization of zirconium oxychloride by evaporation of hydrochloric acid solutions;

• Hydrolytic precipitation of sulfates;

• Crystallization of zirconium sulphate.

Cleaning from hafnium

Zirconium, the technology of production in Russia (as, indeed, everywhere in the world) which is quite complex, from this impurity should be separated necessarily. For cleaning the metal from hafnium, the following can be used:

• Fractional crystallization of K2ZrF6;

• Extraction with solvents;

• Selective reduction of tetrachlorides (HfCl4 and ZrCl4).

How to get the metal itself

Methods for the production of zirconium are different. In the industry, metal can be used:

• In the form of a powder or sponge;

• Compact malleable;

• High purity.

At the first stage, zirconium powder is produced at enterprises. The production of it is technologically relatively uncomplicated. It is made by the method of metal-thermal reduction. For chlorides, magnesium or sodium is used, and calcium hydride for oxides. Electrolytic zirconium powder is obtained from alkali metal chlorides. The material so produced is usually compressed. Then it is used to produce malleable zirconium in electric arc furnaces. The latter is subjected to electron-beam melting in the final stage. The result is high purity zirconium. It is used mainly in nuclear reactors.

Zirconium dioxide: manufacturing technology and scope of use

This is one of the most popular compounds in the industry and the national economy of zirconium. In nature, it occurs in the form of baddeleyite mineral. It is a white crystalline powder with a gray or yellowish tint. It can be produced, for example, by the method of iodide refining. As a raw material, the usual metal zirconium shavings are used. Zirconium dioxide is used in the manufacture of ceramics (including in the field of prosthetics), lighting fixtures and refractories, in construction, and so on.

Zircon reserves in the Russian Federation

The production of zirconium in Russia is possible, of course, only due to the presence of its deposits on the territory of the country. The ore reserves of this group in the Russian Federation (in comparison with the world ones) are quite large. At present, there are 11 such deposits in Russia. The largest is Central, located in the Tambov region. The most promising fields at the moment include Beshpagir (Stavropol Territory), Kirsanov (Tambov region) and Ordynskoye (Novosibirsk). It is believed that the available zircon reserves in Russia is quite enough to meet the demands of the country's industry. The most technologically favorable site is currently the Eastern Central Deposit.

Statistical data

Thus, this procedure for any state, including Russia, is very important - the production of zirconium. The technology of manufacturing it is complex, but its release is a matter in any case more than justified. At the moment, zirconium is the only rare metal, whose production and consumption amounts to hundreds of thousands of tons. Russia ranks fourth in the world in its reserves. Structurally and qualitatively the raw material base of zirconium in our country differs greatly from the foreign one. More than 50% of the ore reserves of this group in the Russian Federation are associated with alkaline granites, 35% with zircon-rutile-ilmenite placers and 14% with baddeleyite camphorites. Abroad, almost all the reserves of such minerals are concentrated in the coastal-marine zones.

Instead of concluding

Thus, we found out how zirconium is produced in Russia. On the world market today, unfortunately, there is quite a sharp deficit of this metal. Therefore, count on its imports of Russia is not necessary. And consequently, it is necessary to give maximum attention to the development of its own deposits. At the same time, in order to strengthen the raw materials base of zirconium in Russia, it is also necessary to develop the most effective technologies for the use of extracted raw materials.