Objectives:
To introduce the students to the processes for the isolation and winning of minerals by use of solution based raw material.
Learning outputs
At the end the course the students should be able to:
- Apply engineering methods to isolate minerals
- Apply solution based methods to extract minerals
Prerequisite: MP 131, MP 331 and CP 203
Mode of Delivery: 3 hrs lecture + 2 hrs tutorial per week (75 Hours)
Assessment Mode: Course work (Home works, quizzes, tests) 40%
University Examination 60%
Course Contents:
Leaching processes and treatment of leach solutions, are discussed. The treatment of leach solutions covers ion exchange, solvent extraction, cementation, carbon-in-pulp, purification, precipitation, reduction and electrolysis. Examples of the extraction processes of copper, nickel, lead, gold and zinc are used to illustrate the processing flow sheet. New developments in gold recovery such as pressure oxidation, thiourea processes, biotechnology and heap leaching. Impurity control and disposal in hydrometallurgical process are addressed.
Recommended Textbooks:
1) Wills, B. A., 2003: " Mineral Processing Technology: An Introduction to the Practical Aspects of Ore Treatment and Mineral Recovery (in SI Metric units)" Oxford; New York : Pergamon Press,.
2) Pryor, E.J., 1999: “Mineral Processing”, Kluwer Academic Publishers,.