Importance of Fundamental Study in Hydrometallurgy

摘要

Recent developments in modeling and optimization studies using computer technology have had a remarkable effect on all areas of extractive metallurgy. However, a lack of fundamental data regarding, for instance, activities, diffusion coefficients, limiting current densities, etc. obstructs the reliable use of this method. In studying hydrometallurgy, I recognized the importance of fundamental analysis and continued such works throughout my university life. For example, activities of water and solutes of the solution systems H_2SO_4-M_x(SO_4)_y-H_2O and HCl-MCl_x-H_2O were determined, and the results were employed to analyze the dissolution mechanism of metal oxides as well as metal sulfides in those solutions. In this article, fundamental studies mainly made in my laboratory to understand hydrometallurgical phenomena will be discussed.