Raw Material Sources of Ammonium Metatungstate

The preparation of ammonium metatungstate (AMT) relies heavily on tungsten, which primarily comes from two sources: natural tungsten ores and tungstate intermediates. Natural tungsten ores include wolframite (FeMnWO₄) and scheelite (CaWO₄), which are the most common tungsten sources in industry. China, as the world's largest tungsten producer, boasts abundant mineral resources, particularly in the Ganzhou area of Jiangxi Province, often referred to as the "Tungsten Capital of the World." These ores undergo physical separation processes such as crushing and flotation before entering the chemical refining stage, providing the foundational raw materials sources for AMT production.

Another common raw material is ammonium paratungstate (APT), with the chemical formula (NH₄)₁₀(H₂W₁₂O₄₂)·4H₂O. APT is a mainstream intermediate in tungsten metallurgy, typically produced from tungsten ores. Due to its high purity and stability, it is frequently used as the starting material for AMT production. Additionally, other tungstate solutions, such as sodium tungstate (Na₂WO₄), can serve as alternative raw materials, offering greater flexibility, especially in laboratory or small-scale production. The choice of raw material depends on production goals, cost considerations, and equipment conditions.