VNIIНT, Moscow, Russia:

V. E. Matyasova, Leading Researcher
V. A. Tolkachev, Leading Researcher
D. V. Maynikov, Senior Researcher, e-mail: didima06@mail.ru
Z. M. Alekberov, Leading Engineer

Currently, there is no beryllium producing facility in Russia. Considering the current level of technology, the most important industry sectors heavily rely on this metal as there is no alternative. VNIIНT carried out a series of laboratory studies and generic tests and, on the basis of the obtained results, developed an innovative technology for producing beryllium hydroxide from the beryllium containing concentrates of the phenacite-bertrandite ores found at the Ermakov deposit in Buryatia. This paper describes the parameters of the processing cycle that includes: alkaline autoclaving of the concentrate followed by phase separation and washing of the cake to remove water-soluble beryllium; purification of the target solution to remove iron and manganese; hydrolysis of sodium beryllate. Autoclaving of the concentrate at the temperature of 270 ^oC and leaching for 4 hours at the pressure of 35 atm. and the NaOH concentration of ~450–500 g/dm³ resulted in the recovery of beryllium in the solution at the level of 96–98 %. The resultant slurries were thickened with the help of the flocculant Alclar 600, which was added in the amount of 25 g/ton of solid. The thickened material was filtered and then the cake was filter-pressed at the throughput of 25.2 kg/(m²·cycle). The recovery of beryllium from insoluble residue reached 99.7–99.8 %. For the first time in the world practice, the electromembrane process was applied to adjust the concentration of alkali (decomposition and recovery) in the production of beryllium hydroxide. This technique helped lower the concentration of alkali in the target solution to 30 g/dm³, and thus the solution could be used in the hydrolysis of sodium beryllate and a commercial product could be produced with the beryllium concentration of around 20.3%, which conforms with the industry standard. The developed process can be characterised as being a novelty. It introduces a closed-loop water system and creates pre-conditions for enabling a continuous automatic process, which can help improve the working environment and reduce the environmental impact. This process can now be used for carrying out pilot tests.

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