However, all this is just a beautiful idea on paper.

Because the current Ningyuan Rare Earth Metallurgical Plant, in the whole process of NdFeB products, can only go to the step of NdFeB oxide, and the output is still extremely unstable.

There is still a long way to go before the stage goal of real mass production of NdFeB permanent magnets.

After all, from the initial rare earth concentrate link, these rare earth primary raw materials must go through the acid production line (sulfuric acid low-temperature roasting and decomposition, water immersion) before they can be extracted (cascade extraction method), and the components containing rare earth elements are made into rare earth chloride, and then extracted through the hydrochloric acid system to obtain neodymium oxide.

Next, there is the big hurdle, which is to electrolyze neodymium oxide to obtain neodymium metal.

After having sufficient purity of metal neodymium, you can make NdFeB permanent magnets!

As for these processes, in fact, in the previous life, in 1995, Academician Xu Guangxian personally wrote the book "Rare Earths" have explained and detailed processes, but now it is still 1983, and many links are huge difficulties.

"In Lao Zhou's factory, the electrolysis workshop doesn't seem to be in a good situation...... After analyzing the whole process of making NdFeB permanent magnets with Zhong Bai, Xu Guangxian couldn't help but sigh: "Actually, the factory didn't plan to buy electrolysis equipment, but at my insistence, Lao Zhou invested tens of thousands of yuan to prepare some of this piece in advance." At that time, I considered that the purification of rare earth metals would definitely be done in the future, but I didn't expect this plan to come so early......"

"There is already electrolysis equipment in the Ningyuan Rare Earth Metallurgical Plant?!" Hearing this, Zhong Bai couldn't help but show a hint of surprise on his face!

Xu Guangxian recalled: "Yes, why are you ...... Oh, by the way, the last time I took you to the factory, the electrolysis plant was closed and not open. Do you remember, Xiao Zhong, just behind their acid workshop, there is a medium-sized workshop that has not been opened? ”

"That's it?"

"That's it." Xu Guangxian nodded: "At that time, we were still stuck in the acid roasting process, and we didn't think about the electrolysis at all, even if the workshop was opened for you to visit, it would just be a waste of electricity, so Lao Zhou didn't open it." ”

"That's okay, what equipment is in it?" Zhong Bai immediately asked, "What kind of electrolysis system do they use?" ”

Even if there is a complete electrolysis workshop, but the configuration of the electrolysis workshop can be more than one, but there are N kinds, before knowing what equipment the other party has, Zhong Bai is really not sure what method is more suitable for electrolysis, so he asked.

And more importantly, on the road of electrolytic neodymium oxide to neodymium metal, there are two different system processes!

One is to use the molten salt electrolytic oxide of the fluoride system to produce neodymium metal.

The other is to use chloride system molten salt electrolytic oxide to produce neodymium metal.

The difference between the two is one word, and the layman simply can't understand the difference between them, while the layman knows it very clearly.

The fluoride system is used to make the process more stable, easy to master, and has a high absorption rate of rare earths, but it is difficult to achieve industrialization under the basic conditions of 1983.

With the chloride system, its disadvantages are even more obvious: chloride not only has low electrolysis current efficiency, but also is easy to absorb moisture, and the electrolysis durability is poor, resulting in poor consistency of the final finished product.

According to Zhong Bai's assumption, no matter from which aspect, he would rather choose a more stable fluoride system.

But Xu Guangxian's answer was: "The chloride electrolysis system used in the factory, the equipment, is nothing more than those reaction pots, filter presses, drying ovens, electrolyzers, etc., ......"

Zhong Bai thought about it, then immediately shook his head and said, "Academician Xu, we can't use the chloride system!" ”

"Why?" Xu Guang paused for a moment and asked rhetorically.

After all, before 1988, Huaguo basically used the "chloride system" for electrolysis to produce neodymium metal, and it was not until the 90s that it slowly changed to a more advanced "fluoride system".

It was a long process, but Zhong Bai was thinking about taking a more advanced path from the beginning.

So, he combined the existing knowledge system and gave Xu Guangxian a brief explanation.

“…… Fluoride has a high boiling point, but it is a little more complicated to operate, and it is a little more difficult to achieve industrialization, but we can slowly overcome these weaknesses as production progresses. Zhong Bai said shortly.

"This ...... It's not just a little complicated, it's a little hard! After Xu Guangxian listened, how could he not understand the difference between the two systems, and said in an accentuated tone.

"It's okay, isn't there no actual production yet? When the time comes, you will know when you go to the factory. Zhong Bai replied confidently.

It's complicated, it's difficult, it's for people with no experience.

But Zhong Bai?

Hehe, no matter which link is the difficulty, he has a solution plan in his mind.

Isn't that the old saying?

Those who are difficult will not, and those who will will not be difficult!

"Okay, then let's do what you suggested! However, with fluoride system, the existing equipment may be insufficient, there are those that need to be removed, and there are also those that need to be newly purchased, and this piece needs to be checked on site before you can decide, and the other ......"

Xu Guang first thought about Zhou Changqing, who was still hospitalized in MD, and his expression was a little gloomy, and said: "If you want to buy new equipment, the funds in the factory may be a problem...... Even if Baifeng Group supported an interest-free loan of 100,000 yuan to Ningyuan Rare Earth Metallurgical Plant last time, these are only enough for the cadres and workers of the whole plant to pay their wages until the New Year, where is the money to buy equipment? Not to mention, if this electrolysis workshop is launched, what about skilled workers? Are you preparing for training or a new hire? Either way, it costs money! ”

"You don't have to worry about money." Zhong Bai smiled and said: "As long as you agree to the route of the factory, I will find a way to do the rest!" ”

"Then I'm bothering you again." The more Zhong Bai agreed, the more guilty Xu Guangxian felt in his heart: "I, a professor and academician, only have lip service, and there is no way to do practical things, I have to let Xiao Zhong come out every time, my old face is ......."

"Hey! Academician Xu, I'm not happy to say that! Seeing that Xu Guangxian felt guilty, Zhong Bai immediately interrupted the other party's words and said seriously: "Your knowledge and insights are all precious assets in the rare earth world of Huaguo!" That's not something that can be measured by the number of money! I'm just a little bit of a little bit involved in this and I'm able to get in touch with the funds. And this doesn't cost much money, now Ningyuan Rare Earth Metallurgical Plant is difficult, but as long as we can really cross this hurdle, we can successfully produce neodymium metal, and even NdFeB permanent magnets, and then we won't have to worry about funds! ”

"Don't comfort me with such words." Xu Guangxian is not a person who can be coaxed in three or two sentences, he shook his head slightly and said: "This road is full of difficulties, we don't have many people, we rely on borrowing, and the factory only has this one factory, and it has been losing money, and the factory director is seriously ill, hey......"

Regarding Xu Guangxian's pessimism, Zhong Bai did not persuade again.

Because a lot of languages, before they really make a difference, are pale.

There is only one way, that is, to fulfill all the promises he has said and made, in order to reawaken the confidence of this academician of the Republic!

The rest of the work must wait for the return to the Baiyun Obo mining area to be carried out, but for the commitment to solve the funding gap, Zhong Bai can of course only find Yu Dongfeng to solve it.

After the conversation just now, Zhong Bai couldn't resist the academician's insistence and watched the academician leave the office.

Xu Guangxian said that Zhong Bai couldn't be left alone to find a way to raise money, and there were still seconded cadres left? They're going to do it too!

In addition, Xu Guangxian also thought of a way, that is, to continue to ask for funding from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Beijing University in the name of the project!

As for the matter of funding, the reason why there is no Ministry of Industry in the list is because the last time and this time from the industrial mouth, it was originally the relationship between the leaders of the Chinese Academy of Sciences who pulled down their faces, and if they asked for someone from the Ministry of Industry and asked for money, it was a bit too much.

After all, this transfer is nominally tentative for a month, and now it's almost a month, Xu Guangxian has no intention of returning the person, you now want to extend the secondment time, and you also need funds, isn't this a bit of a rhythm of kicking your nose and face?

"Let's go to Baiyun Obo on the 4th, I have some things to do in the past two days, you just have the relevant information ready, and you can also go to the Ministry of Industry to meet acquaintances and leaders when you have time!"

Xu Guang threw down this sentence first, and then "kicked" Zhong Bai out of his office and asked him to take care of himself.