Advances in Understanding of Unit Operations in Non-ferrous Extractive Metallurgy 2021

• Format: eBook
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2022
• Subjects: History of engineering and technology; Mining technology and engineering; Technology: general issues; acid mine drainage; aluminium; anode slime; antibacterial; atomic force microscopy; atomic layer deposition; basic sulfate precipitation; capillary cell; cavitation erosion; cobalt oxide Co3O4; conductometry; continuous vertical cast (CVC), NiTi rod; copper; corrosion properties; desorption; early stage cost estimation; electrocatalysis; electrocatalyst; electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; electrodeposition; electron microscopy; electrorefining; eudialyte; factorial design; Fe removal; flotation; goethite; halides; high content; hydrometallurgy; immobilization; leachate; leaching; macroporous polymer; magnet; magnetic separation; metal ions extraction; mixed oxides; MnO2; molten salts; n/a; nanocatalyst; nanocomposite; nanoparticles; NdFeB; neutralization; Ni; NiAl2O4; nitinol; noble metal nanoparticles; non-commercial copper anode; non-ferrous metals; optical microscopy; oxidation; oxygen reduction in alkaline media; passivation; Pb; pentlandite; perovskite materials; phase analysis; potentiodynamic test; precipitation; Pt catalyst; rare earth elements; reaction mechanism; recycling; red mud; Sb; selectivity; silica; silver; Sn; synthesis; tailings reprocessing; thin-layer electrolysis; ultrasonic spray pyrolysis; waste solution; zirconium; ZnAl2O4
• Online Access: Open Access: DOAB: description of the publication; Open Access: DOAB, download the publication

 Unit metallurgical operations processes are usually separated into three categories: 1) hydrometallurgy (leaching, mixing, neutralization, precipitation, cementation, and crystallization); 2) pyrometallurgy (roasting and smelting); and 3) electrometallurgy (aqueous electrolysis and molten salt electrolysis). In hydrometallurgy, the aimed metal is first transferred from ores and concentrates to a solution using a selective dissolution (leaching or dry digestion) under an atmospheric pressure below 100 °C and under a high pressure (40-50 bar) and high temperature (below 270°C) in an autoclave. The purification of the obtained solution was performed using neutralization agents such as sodium hydroxide and calcium carbonate or more selective precipitation agents such as sodium carbonate and oxalic acid. The separation of metals is possible using a liquid/liquid process (solvent extraction in mixer-settler) and solid-liquid (filtration in filter-press under high pressure). Crystallization is the process by which a metallic compound is converted from a liquid into a solid crystalline state via a supersaturated solution. The final step is metal production using electrochemical methods (aqueous electrolysis for basic metals such as copper, zinc, silver, and molten salt electrolysis for rare earth elements and aluminum). Advanced processes, such as ultrasonic spray pyrolysis and microwave-assisted leaching, can be combined with reduction processes in order to produce metallic powders.