Hydromineralurgy

Code:

MEMG0010

Acronym:

HM

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
CNAEF	Extractive industries

Instance: 2019/2020 - 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	15	Plano de estudos oficial a partir de 2008/09	1	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

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.

Learning outcomes and competences

- 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.

 

Working method

Presencial

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.

Mandatory literature

António Fiúza; Hidromineralurgia, 2011
Emilío Gómez, Fernendo Urbina, Antonio Pérez e António Chaparro; Mineria Química, 1993. ISBN: Instituto Tecnologico GeoMinero de España

Teaching methods and learning activities

THEORETICAL-PRACTICAL CLASSES - Presentation of the main concepts and its technological application. APPLICATION CLASSES (7 classes) - Resolution of selected problems. LABORATORIAL CLASSES (5 classes) - The laboratory assignment comprises a report.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Teste	70,00
Trabalho laboratorial	15,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	15,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	1,00
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese	20,00
Estudo autónomo	75,00
Frequência das aulas	46,00
Trabalho escrito	10,00
Trabalho laboratorial	10,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Students are obliged to attend at least 75% of all the classes. Students are obliged to have completed 6 laboratory work.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final grade = 0.4* Grade of the continuous assessment component + 0.6* Grade of the final assessment component

The assessment is base on two components:
Continuous assessment component: 40% of the final grade, being 15% of that mark based on the laboratory component,  15% of seleted problem solving and the remaining 15% on the individual work.
Final assessment component: 60% - Final exam.
To complete the course unit, students have to reach a minimum grade of 8 out of 20 in the Final assessment component.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Six laboratory assignments and an individual assignment with presentation.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Not applicable.

Classification improvement

Students may only improve their grades by attending a final exam. Students may not improve the grade of the continuous assessment component.