Zirconium in its elementary form is a silver-white metal, characterized by such characteristic properties as corrosion resistance and ductility. In nature, it is quite common, but at the same time very dispersed. Its large deposits have not yet been found. For the first time, people learned about the existence of this metal in 1789. Then the chemist M. Klaprot accidentally discovered its oxide during the study of the zircon mineral. In its pure form, this metal was obtained only in 1925. In the modern world, zirconium, the production of which is widespread, is used in various industries. Of course, many domestic enterprises are also engaged in its production.
general description
Unusual properties - this is what primarily determines the industrial value of such a relatively rare metal as zirconium. Its production is beneficial for the national economy due to:
High degree of chemical resistance. Hydrochloric acid has absolutely no effect on this metal, and it only reacts with sulfuric acid at a concentration of not less than 50% and a temperature above +100 degrees.
Ability to burn in air with virtually no smoke. Zirconium (finely dispersed) can ignite spontaneously even at a temperature of 250 C.
Biological inertness. Zirconium has absolutely no harmful effects on humans or animals. Unfortunately, contrary to popular belief, he also cannot bring any benefits.
Not only the metal itself, but also its compounds are very popular in industry. The zircon mineral, for example, has a very high hardness and a pleasant diamond shine. Therefore, it is sometimes used as a cheap substitute for diamonds. However, recently in the jewelry business zircon is used less and less. Currently, imitation diamonds are often made from cubic zirconia (artificial zirconia).
Where is used
Zirconium production at the moment is one of the most important areas 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 nevertheless 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 dispersion, unfortunately, has not yet been established. According to scientists, it can be 170-250 grams per ton. Actually, there are many zircon minerals themselves in nature. At the moment, scientists know about 40 of their varieties. However, most often used only the following raw materials for the production of zirconium:
baddeleyite;
eudialyte;
zircon.
Large zircon deposits on the planet, as already mentioned, do not exist. In Russia there are only a few small deposits of such minerals. They are also mined in countries such as the United States, India, Brazil and Australia. The most common mineral of all used to produce zirconium is, of course, zircon (ZrSiO4). In most cases, hafnium accompanies it in nature.
Zirconium production in Russia: features
In the Russian Federation, the only one enterprise currently producing this metal is the Chepetsk Mechanical Plant, located in Glazov (Udmurtia). His first workshops were built at the beginning of the Second World War. By 1942, the plant reached full design capacity. At that time, mainly cartridges were produced here. In 1946, the company was re-qualified as a uranium metal production plant. Later (in 1957) zirconium began to be produced here, and then superconducting metals, calcium and titanium. Today this enterprise is part of TVEL Corporation, one of the world leaders in the production of nuclear fuel. Investments in the production of zirconium at ChMZ from TVEL annually amount to billions of rubles. Today, this company supplies zirconium markets to the domestic and world markets:
Also at the Chepetsk Mechanical Plant they make souvenirs from this metal.
Processing of raw materials and obtaining acid solutions
Zirconium, the production of which is a complex technological process, metal is quite expensive. Its manufacture begins with the purification delivered from the ore deposits. Processing of raw materials usually includes the following operations:
enrichment by gravity method;
purification of the obtained concentrate by electrostatic and magnetic separation;
decomposition of the concentrate by chlorination, fusion with sodium hydroxide or potassium fluorosilicate, sintering with lime;
water leaching to remove silicon compounds;
decomposition of the residue with sulfuric or hydrochloric acid to produce sulfate or oxychloride.
Fluorosilicate cake is treated with acidified water with heating. After cooling the resulting solution, potassium fluorozirconate is released.
Connections
The next step in the production of zirconium is to obtain 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 sulfate.
Hafnium Removal
Zirconium, the production technology in Russia (as, indeed, everywhere in the world) is rather complicated, must be separated from this impurity. For cleaning metal from hafnium can be used:
How to get the metal itself
Methods for the production of zirconium are different. In industry, metal can be used:
At the first stage, enterprises receive zirconium powder. Its production is technologically relatively simple. They make it by metallothermal reduction method. For chlorides, magnesium or sodium is used, and for oxides, calcium hydride. Electrolytic zirconium powder is obtained from alkali metal chlorides. Material made in this way is usually compressed. Further, it is used to obtain malleable zirconium in electric arc furnaces. The latter is subjected to electron beam melting at the final stage. The result is high purity zirconium. It is used mainly in nuclear reactors.
Zirconium dioxide: production technology and scope
This is one of the most popular zirconium compounds in industry and the national economy. In nature, it is found in the form of the mineral baddeleyite. Represents zirconia white crystalline powder with a gray or yellowish tint. It can be made, for example, by the method of iodide refining. In this case, conventional zirconium metal chips are used as raw materials. Zirconia is used in the manufacture of ceramics (including in the field of prosthetics), lighting devices and refractories, in baking, etc.
Zircon reserves in the Russian Federation
Zirconium production in Russia is possible, of course, only due to the presence of its deposits in the country. The ore reserves of this group in the Russian Federation (in comparison with the global ones) are quite large. At present, there are 11 such deposits in Russia. The largest loose is Central, located in the Tambov region. The most promising deposits currently include Beshpagirskoye (Stavropol Territory), Kirsanovskoye (Tambov Oblast) and Ordynskoye (Novosibirsk). It is believed that the zircon reserves available in Russia are quite sufficient to satisfy the country's industry. The most technologically favorable area is currently the East Central deposit.
Statistical data
Thus, this procedure for any state, including Russia, is very important - the production of zirconium. Its manufacturing technology is complex, but its release is in any case more than justified. At the moment, zirconium is the only rare metal whose production and consumption are estimated at hundreds of thousands of tons. Russia in its reserves ranks fourth in the world. Structurally and qualitatively, the raw material base of zirconium in our country is very different 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 reserves of such minerals are concentrated in coastal-marine zones.
Instead of a conclusion
Thus, we found out how zirconium is produced in Russia. Unfortunately, there is a rather acute shortage of this metal on the global market today. Therefore, Russia does not have to rely on its imports. Therefore, maximum attention should be paid to the development of our own deposits. At the same time, in order to strengthen the raw material base of zirconium in the Russian Federation, it is also worth developing the most effective technologies for using the extracted raw materials.