Solvent Extraction Of Zinc, Copper, Nickel And Cobalt - The Status Of Current Technology

摘要

Solvent extraction (SX) technology is today a well-accepted unit operation in metal recovery. Copper industry is expected to change over to hydrometallurgical route in a big way. SX-EW route for copper is expected to make further advances in coming years to process leach solutions assaying over 50 g/l Cu. The Cu extractants available today are adequate to meet this situation. SX process would also be geared to recover Zn from refractory oxide/ silicate ores and from varieties of secondary sources. SX of Co and Ni from sulphate solutions is now firmly established and it is likely to be the most important route for recovery of these metals. In India, using indigenous expertise on metal recovery via SX, small plants for Zn, Cu, Co and Ni recovery have come up during the last few years and this would be a trend setter for the metal recovery industry in the country.