Hydromineralurgy

Code:

MEMG0010

Acronym:

HM

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Technology and Applied Sciences

Instance: 2009/2010 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Mining Engineering Department
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Mining and Geo-Environmental Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MEMG	16	Plano de estudos oficial a partir de 2008/09	1	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

- Knowledge: Recall basic concepts related to material balance in biphasic systems (solid-liquid); General concepts of chemistry.
- Comprehension: Recognize, Express and identify the unit operations involved in a hydrometallurgical process.
- Application: To discriminate the field of application of different technologies: to select the most appropriate technology for a particular case.
- Analysis: To calculate the materials balance in steady-state using analytical, numerical and graphical methods for each unit operation.
- Synthesis: Create and organize coherent process flowsheets for each unit operation and for the process as a whole.
Evaluation: Compare different process alternatives.

Program

LEACHING: Introduction: Mass balances – General principles. The diffusion - Fick Laws. Basic concepts: calculations involving biphasic systems (pulps) and extraction recovery. Leaching theory: diffusional and chemical control. Effect of agitation, temperature, concentration, phase ratio and interface geometry. Dynamic Leaching. Heap leaching. In-situ leaching. Bio-leaching. Pressure leaching. Electro-leaching. Examples: Hydrometallurgy of gold, aluminium, copper and uranium.
SOLID-LIQUID SEPARATION: Introduction and objectives. Continuous washing: by repulping using either thickeners or filters in a counter-current arrangement. Continuous washing with diffusion in counter-current arrangements. Filtration: basic equation of filtration; selection and design of a filter. Description of the main types of filters. Clarification, Flocculation and coagulation.
ENRICHMENT AND PURIFICATION: Ion exchange: Equilibrium and isotherms. Reaction kinetics. Ion Exchange in a fixed bed. Elution. Poisons. Basic concepts in a continuous ion exchange process. Technology
Adsorption by activated carbon. Properties. Mechanisms of adsorption in activated carbon. Its preparation. Stripping. Technology. Applications.
Solvent Extraction: Basic theory. Extraction systems: (a) chelating extractants, (b) acidic extractants, (c) systems involving ionic association (d) systems involving solvatation. Composition of the organic phase. Extraction technology. Number of stages. Equipment.
Finishing: Ionic Precipitation: formation of a precipitate, aggregation, orientation and supersaturation. Nucleation. Co-precipitation by adsorption, formation of solid solutions and occlusion.
Crystallization, cementation, gaseous precipitation and electrolysis.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical Lessons: Main concepts and its technological application;
Application Classes - Resolution of selected problems

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	48,00
	Total:	-	0,00

Eligibility for exams

Students are obliged to attend at least 75% of all the classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

Through final examination(s).

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Not applicable.

Classification improvement

Second final examination.