Antimony Production

Antimony ores are concentrated by flotation and gravity methods. The element is extracted mostly by pyrometallurgical method which is precipitation of the fusion with iron. Alternatively partially oxidized ores as well as for ores containing precious metals are subject of oxidizing roasting with sublimation. It may be applied for Sb₂O₃, which on the next step is processed by reduction smelting. In both cases Na₂CO₃, Na₂SO₄ or NaCl are used as flux. Roast-reaction smelting based on reaction Sb₂S₃ + 2Sb₂O₃ : 6Sb + 3SO₂, soda fusion 2Sb₂S₃ + 6Na₂CO₃ + 3C : 4Sb + 6Na₂S + 6CO₂, and alkaline fusion are also used for this purposehydromatallurgical method: leaching by Na₂S NaOH solution with following electrolysis, applied, especially for copper-antimony concentrates.

Fire refining include removing of iron and copper affecting on them by Sb₂S₃ or sulphur, alkaline refining from Arsenic and sulphur, purification from sodium by SiO₂. Fire refining include removing of iron and copper affecting on them by Sb₂S₃ or sulphur, alkaline refining from Arsenic and sulphur, purification from sodium by SiO₂ and pouring under the molten burah layer or NaSbO₂ ("asteriated slag"). For gold, silver and lead removing electrolytic refining is applied using sulphate-fluoride-potassium-alkaline solutions. High-purity antimony is recovered via intermediate compounds such as SbCl₃ or SbH₃, which are passed through rectification, for instance. Electrolytic refining with glycerol-alkaline or xylitol-alkaline electrolytes also works. The refining process is completed by zone melting or other crystallization methods are used.