Vanadium is used in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, energy, and even medicine. It is a robust yet light metal with a substantially high melting point and corrosion resistance. It’s also an excellent electrical conductor, making it a crucial material for manufacturing fuel cells and batteries.
However, to achieve the highest production standards, industries need pure vanadium. That is why knowing how suppliers produce the finest form of vanadium is crucial.
How to produce pure vanadium
Oushi Metal specializes in offering high-quality vanadium products. We continuously strive to provide our customers with the finest quality vanadium possible. We employ several procedures to get vanadium in its purest form.
Vanadium mining
Mining is the initial step toward producing pure vanadium. Today, titanomagnetite ores are the primary sources of vanadium. However, the mineral can also be recovered from coal, fly ash, used catalysts, and other sources.
Vanadium mines are generally open-pit or underground. Mining is usually the most successful way to obtain pure vanadium. The ores are treated to make vanadium converter slag, which is then used to make vanadium pentoxide via chemical means.
Processing
After mining, the ore must be treated to eliminate any trace elements. Normally, the ore is crushed before being heated to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, making it possible to extract the vanadium.
This procedure requires several hours and involves the use of specialized equipment. After extracting the vanadium from the ore, we place it in calcines or slags.
Refining
The final stage in obtaining pure vanadium involves refining. This is accomplished using various methods, including vacuum distillation, chemical precipitation, and electrolysis. Each method has its perks and drawbacks, and the one adopted will be based on the kind of vanadium involved. Once refining is complete, the pure vanadium is ready.
Recycling
It’s also possible to obtain pure vanadium via high-pressure reduction of vanadium pentoxide in various wastes with potassium. Indeed, some of the vanadium on the market is a by-product of the production of other minerals.
For example, sludges with a considerable proportion of V2O5 might serve as alternative sources of vanadium, helping maintain an environmentally sustainable business.
Various sulfuric acid processing processes can be used to obtain vanadium from the wastes. Sometimes, coke and aluminum are also used to reduce vanadium pentoxide to pure vanadium.
Uses
Vanadium is a malleable, hard, silvery-grey metal with a 1,926°C melting point. The metal is mostly used to make HSLA steels, though it is also used in tool steels and iron castings to a lesser extent. It is also a vital titanium alloy strengthener. Additionally, vanadium alloys have an intriguing potential for use in nuclear reactors.
In various chemical processes, vanadium compounds are also used as “chemical bread,” i.e., catalysts. Furthermore, vanadium oxide compounds are utilized in resistors with memory (memristors), thermal infrared sensors (bolometers), and biosensors. It is also used in dentistry to make dental implants.
Nonetheless, the metal is also regarded as a potential hazard. Vanadium concentrations of 35 mg/m3 should be classified as “red alert” because they are immediately detrimental to health and life. Inhaling vanadium-containing debris has been established to cause an acute, dry cough and eye, nose, and throat irritation.
It is a reproductive poison and a carcinogen. In industries, vanadium pentoxide dust and vanadium fumes must be handled carefully.
Conclusion
Vanadium is an atomic number 23 chemical element. It is a tough, silvery-gray, malleable metal. It is prepared by reducing vanadium oxides with aluminum, carbon, or calcium in high-temperature ovens. It has various uses, including as a steel-strengthening agent, an ingredient in alloys for gas turbines and jet engines, and the development of vanadium redox cells for energy storage.
If you are looking for pure vanadium, we’ve got you covered. At OSHI Metal, we recognize the importance of producing the purest form of vanadium while remaining true to global environmental conservation efforts. That is why we employ a variety of approaches to obtain the purest form of the element.
We go above and beyond to guarantee that our customers receive high-quality vanadium. We also recycle vanadium from various industrial wastes to keep it from ending up in landfills. Please get in touch to learn more about how we can assist you.
