Smelting method: tantalum and niobium ore is often accompanied by a variety of metals, tantalum smelting the main step is to decompose concentrate, purification and separation of tantalum, niobium, to produce tantalum, niobium pure compounds, and finally the preparation of metal. Ore decomposition can be used hydrofluoric acid decomposition method, sodium hydroxide melting method and chlorination method. Tantalum and niobium separation can be solvent extraction method [commonly used extraction agent for methyl isobutyl copper (MIBK), tributyl phosphate (TBP), sec-octanol and acetamide, etc.], step-by-step crystallization and ion exchange. Separation: First, the tantalum and niobium ore concentrate with hydrofluoric acid and sulfuric acid decomposition of tantalum and niobium fluoride tantalate as well as fluorine niobic acid dissolved in the leaching solution, while iron, manganese, titanium, tungsten, silicon and other associated elements are also soluble leaching solution, the formation is very complex components of strong acid solution. Tantalum and niobium leaching solution extraction of tantalum and niobium with methyl isobutyl ketone at the same time into the organic phase, with sulfuric acid solution in the organic phase of trace impurities, the pure tantalum-niobium-containing organic phase lotion and raffinate combined, which contains trace tantalum and niobium as well as impurity elements, is a strong acid solution, can be integrated recovery. The pure organic phase containing tantalum and niobium is back-extracted with dilute sulfuric acid solution to obtain an organic phase containing tantalum. Niobium and a small amount of tantalum into the aqueous phase and then extracting the tantalum with methyl isobutyl ketone to give a pure niobium-containing solution. The pure tantalum containing organic phase is back extracted with water to give a pure tantalum containing solution. The organic phase after extraction of tantalum is returned to the extraction cycle. The pure fluoranthenic acid solution or the pure fluoro niobic acid solution reacts with potassium fluoride or potassium chloride to produce potassium fluorotantalate (K2TaF7) and potassium fluorophosphate (K2NbF7), respectively, and react with ammonium hydroxide to form hydrogen tantalum oxide or niobium hydroxide precipitation. Tantalum or niobium hydroxide is calcined at 900 to 1000 °C to form an oxide of tantalum or niobium.

Tantalum in the hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid mixed acid can quickly dissolve in hydrofluoric acid can also be dissolved. Experiments show that tantalum at room temperature, the alkaline solution, chlorine, bromine, dilute sulfuric acid and many other agents do not work, only in the hydrofluoric acid and heat concentrated sulfuric acid under the reaction. This is rare in the metal than F.