UCL - Physical chemistry of hydrometallurgical processes

[MAPR2141]

[30h + 30h] 5 credits

This course is taught in the 2d semester.

Teacher(s): Joris Proost

Language: French

Level: Second

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

This course aims at applying the basic principles of electrochemistry and chemical thermodynamics and kinetics (as acquired in MAPR 1231) to the description of the physico-chemical principles and technological aspects of metals and semiconductors processing and recycling. At the end of the course, the student should be able to read and understand any metallurgical flow-sheet and to evaluate its technological and economical feasibility. He or she should also be able to propose him- or her-self an operational scheme for the extraction and refining of metals and semiconductors, as well as the recycling of different types of metallurgical and electronic scrap.

Main themes

The course is divided into three main parts. In the first part, an overview is given of the different metallurgical unit operations, dealing with their thermodynamic, chemical and thermodynamic basis. An intrinsic distinction will be made between pyro- and hydrometallurgical unit operations. Lectures will be supplemented with several practical lab sessions, during which students will apply and decide themselves on the different steps needed for the extraction, refining or recycling of specific metals from a given base material. In a second part, these operations will be used to discuss different industrially applied processes for the extraction and refining of metals, including pig iron, steel and the non-ferrous metals. In a last part, metallurgical and economical aspects of recycling will be discusses.

Content and teaching methods

1. Overview of metallurgical unit operations (+ lab sessions)
- Pyrometallurgical operations and installations
- Hydrometallurgical operations and installations
2. Description of metallurgical unit operations (+ exercises)
- Mass and heat balances
- Thermodynamic description
- Kinetic description
3. Iron metallurgy
- Blast furnace processes
- Converter processes
- Alternative iron-and steelmaking processes
4. Non-ferrous metallurgy (+ plant tour)
- Copper
- Zinc
- Lead
- Reactive metals (Aluminium, Titanium, )
5. Metals recycling

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

MAPR 1310 (Thermodynamics - Phase equilibria) or a similar course
MAPR 1231 (Applied inorganic chemistry) or a similar course