Aims

Study of the physico-chemical fundamentals and technological aspects of hydrometallurgical processes, and their application to the extraction and recycling of metals.

Main themes

2. Course description
Among the basic hydrometallurgical processes being considered are
- leaching
- purification of leach solutions (chemical precipitation, ion exchange, solvant extraction)
- metal extraction (cementation, precipitation by reductive gases, electrolysis)
- electrolytic metal refining.
These processes are treated both from a theoretical and technological point of view. The theoretical part is largely based on
- the study of thermodynamic equilibrium of ions, oxydes, sulphides and metals in aqueous solutions (e.g. by E-pH diagrams)
- chemical and electrochemical kinetics and rate theory
From a technological point of view, these basic processes and principles are applied for the construction of a global flow-sheet describing the extraction and recycling of metals. Laboratory sessions are organized to actively demonstrate the different processes.

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