Hydrometallurgy
Hydrometallurgy as a word is derived from the Greek hýdōr, meaning water. It refers to the technique of extracting metal from an ore or another material by creating an aqueous solution of a salt of the metal and then recovering the metal from the solution. It is an approach that uses both technology and chemistry to recover metals from a wide variety of metal-bearing sources, which include recycled materials, waste streams, intermediates, mineral concentrates, ores and other solutions.
Hydrometallurgy involves three processes:
- Leaching - which means to drain away from and involves various process such as autoclave, column, atmospheric and pressure acid depending on the metal ore.
- Recover - which refers to the extraction of previously processed metals by methods of carbon-in-leach, carbon-in-pulp, oxidation through a biological approach or using pressure and cementation.
- Solution purification - which refers to the physical separation of the metal from a solution through ion-exchange, direct solvent extraction, electrowinning, or precipitation (also classified as electrometallurgy).
It is a one of the three branches of metallurgy, with the others being pyrometallurgy and electrometallurgy. The three main types of pyrometallurgy might be considered as being calcination, roasting and smelting.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Listed despite problems with its design.
Zen and the art of cycling exploration.
Design Council Homes Taskforce launched
To support government 1.5 million homes target within UK climate commitments.
The story of this knowledge quarter building.
In ecology, in hydrology, in biology and in architecture.
Creating environments that promote physical, mental, and social well-being.
UK cases of neutral current diversion
Research project looks for example contributions.
Overstocking and macro-economics cause a decline.
The 2024 update of the Common Assessment Standard
Demonstrating organisational capability’ to fulfil roles under the Building Safety Act.
56 recommendations for a better built environment
Published by the CIC ahead of the King’s Speech.
SkillELECTRIC Top 8 Competitors Named
in annual search for the UK’s best student electrician.
CIOB Diversity and Inclusion technical information sheet
Step-by-step guide on implementing D and I practices.
Conservation and the Indian City. Book review.
Reversibility in conservation ethics
Learning from painting conservation.
Where It's AT Podcast launched!
New CIAT Architectural Technology Podcast goes live.