Hydrometallurgy

Applies a leaching solution to stacked ore, dissolving valuable metals for collection and recovery. Heap preparation, permeability, solution chemistry, irrigation, collection, and recovery systems are critical to performance.

Contacts finely ground ore with leaching solution in agitated tanks for controlled metal dissolution. Agitation, temperature, residence time, reagent concentration, and oxygen transfer can be controlled to optimize extraction.

Transfers selected metals between liquid phases to purify and concentrate leach solutions for recovery. Selective extractants transfer the target metal into an organic phase and then into a purified aqueous solution for further recovery.

Uses electric current to recover dissolved metals from solution as a high-purity solid product. The process is commonly paired with leaching and solvent extraction to produce saleable metal cathodes from purified electrolyte.

Uses selective resins to capture, separate, purify, or recover dissolved metals and other ions from solution. Resin selection, solution chemistry, loading, washing, elution, and regeneration determine recovery and product purity.

Converts dissolved substances into solids for metal recovery, impurity removal, or water treatment. Control of pH, temperature, reagents, mixing, and residence time influences selectivity, particle size, recovery, and product quality.