Brush Beryllium Corporation

The United States Brush Beryllium Corporation operate the Kaufmann and Kjellgren process for the sulphuric acid breakdown of beryl. Beryl is the principal beryllium mineral and consists of a beryllium aluminium silicate, 3Be0.Al20s.6SiO2. It is mined in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Southern Rhodesia, India and parts of the U.S.A. When pure it has a beryllium oxide content of about 14 per cent. The commercial mineral is usually fairly pure, with 10 to 12 per cent BeO, equivalent to about 4 per cent beryllium. 

After sulphation, several methods are available for isolating the beryllium in a high state of purity the process operated by the Brush Beryllium Corporation is described below ... 

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