Leaching (metallurgy)
Encyclopedia
Leaching is a widely used extractive metallurgy
technique which converts metal
s into soluble salt
s in aqueous media. Compared to pyrometallurgical
operations, leaching is easier to perform and much less harmful, because no gas
eous pollution
occurs. Drawbacks of leaching are the highly acidic and in some cases toxic residual effluent, and its lower efficiency caused by the low temperatures of the operation, which dramatically affect chemical reaction rates.
There are a variety of leaching processes, usually classified by the types of reagent
s used in the operation. The reagents required depend on the ore
s or pretreated material to be processed. A typical feed for leaching is either oxide
or sulfide
.
For material in oxide form, a simple acid leaching reaction can be illustrated by the zinc oxide leaching reaction :
In this reaction solid ZnO dissolves, forming soluble zinc sulfate.
In many cases other reagents are used to leach oxides. For example, in the metallurgy of aluminium
, aluminium oxide is subject to leaching by alkali
solutions:
Leaching of sulfides is a more complex process due to the refractory nature of sulfide ores. It often involves the use of pressurized vessels, called autoclave
s. A good example of the autoclave leach process can be found in the metallurgy of zinc
. It is best described by the following chemical reaction:
This reaction proceeds at temperatures above the boiling point
of water, thus creating a vapor pressure
inside the vessel. Oxygen is injected under pressure, making the total pressure in the autoclave more than 0.6 MPa
.
The leaching of precious metals such as gold
can be carried out with cyanide or ozone
under mild conditions.
Hydrometallurgy
Hydrometallurgy is part of the field of extractive metallurgy involving the use of aqueous chemistry for the recovery of metals from ores, concentrates, and recycled or residual materials...
technique which converts metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
s into soluble salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
s in aqueous media. Compared to pyrometallurgical
Pyrometallurgy
Pyrometallurgy is a branch of extractive metallurgy. It consists of the thermal treatment of minerals and metallurgical ores and concentrates to bring about physical and chemical transformations in the materials to enable recovery of valuable metals...
operations, leaching is easier to perform and much less harmful, because no gas
Gas
Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
eous pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
occurs. Drawbacks of leaching are the highly acidic and in some cases toxic residual effluent, and its lower efficiency caused by the low temperatures of the operation, which dramatically affect chemical reaction rates.
There are a variety of leaching processes, usually classified by the types of reagent
Reagent
A reagent is a "substance or compound that is added to a system in order to bring about a chemical reaction, or added to see if a reaction occurs." Although the terms reactant and reagent are often used interchangeably, a reactant is less specifically a "substance that is consumed in the course of...
s used in the operation. The reagents required depend on the ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
s or pretreated material to be processed. A typical feed for leaching is either oxide
Oxide
An oxide is a chemical compound that contains at least one oxygen atom in its chemical formula. Metal oxides typically contain an anion of oxygen in the oxidation state of −2....
or sulfide
Sulfide
A sulfide is an anion of sulfur in its lowest oxidation state of 2-. Sulfide is also a slightly archaic term for thioethers, a common type of organosulfur compound that are well known for their bad odors.- Properties :...
.
For material in oxide form, a simple acid leaching reaction can be illustrated by the zinc oxide leaching reaction :
- ZnO + H2SO4 → ZnSO4 + H2O
In this reaction solid ZnO dissolves, forming soluble zinc sulfate.
In many cases other reagents are used to leach oxides. For example, in the metallurgy of aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
, aluminium oxide is subject to leaching by alkali
Alkali
In chemistry, an alkali is a basic, ionic salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal element. Some authors also define an alkali as a base that dissolves in water. A solution of a soluble base has a pH greater than 7. The adjective alkaline is commonly used in English as a synonym for base,...
solutions:
- Al2O3 + 3H2O + 2NaOH → 2NaAl(OH)4
Leaching of sulfides is a more complex process due to the refractory nature of sulfide ores. It often involves the use of pressurized vessels, called autoclave
Autoclave
An autoclave is an instrument used to sterilize equipment and supplies by subjecting them to high pressure saturated steam at 121 °C for around 15–20 minutes depending on the size of the load and the contents. It was invented by Charles Chamberland in 1879, although a precursor known as the...
s. A good example of the autoclave leach process can be found in the metallurgy of zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
. It is best described by the following chemical reaction:
- 2ZnS + O2 + 2H2SO4 → 2ZnSO4 + 2H2O + 2S
This reaction proceeds at temperatures above the boiling point
Boiling point
The boiling point of an element or a substance is the temperature at which the vapor pressure of the liquid equals the environmental pressure surrounding the liquid....
of water, thus creating a vapor pressure
Vapor pressure
Vapor pressure or equilibrium vapor pressure is the pressure of a vapor in thermodynamic equilibrium with its condensed phases in a closed system. All liquids have a tendency to evaporate, and some solids can sublimate into a gaseous form...
inside the vessel. Oxygen is injected under pressure, making the total pressure in the autoclave more than 0.6 MPa
Pascal (unit)
The pascal is the SI derived unit of pressure, internal pressure, stress, Young's modulus and tensile strength, named after the French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and philosopher Blaise Pascal. It is a measure of force per unit area, defined as one newton per square metre...
.
The leaching of precious metals such as gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
can be carried out with cyanide or ozone
Ozone
Ozone , or trioxygen, is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope...
under mild conditions.