Electrochemical synthesis of niobium compounds in anodic dissolution of ferroniobium in methanol

A new direct method of niobium separation from iron is discovered, which consists in anodic dissolution of ferroniobium in anhydrous methanol in the presence of sodium methylate with subsequent isolation of sodium hexamethoxyniobate from the electrolyzate. Sodium hexamethoxyniobate is easily converted to niobium methylate with an iron content not exceeding 0.01% by the reaction with ammonium chloride. In its turn, niobium methylate serves as the basis for preparing other niobium compounds. The process of niobium recovery from ferroniobium alloy, in contrast to those used in industry, proceeds under mild conditions and requires no corrosive media to be used