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Learning path

Hydrometallurgy fundamentals.

Finish able to read any hydromet flowsheet — tank or heap, atmospheric or autoclave, adsorption or solvent extraction or crystallisation — identify which mechanisms it composes, and run the surrounding calculations.

Written first for the domain-crosser: an experienced process engineer entering hydrometallurgy from another industry. Students and technicians are served by the same sequence from the ground up.

Topics live
12
Planned
44
Modules
10
The curriculum

Modules 0–9, in sequence

The complete path is laid out in the open. The 12 live topics (Modules 0–2) are linked; the remaining topics are named with their module numbers.

M0Orientation

4 live

M1Solutions and reagents

5 live

M2Slurries (trunk-shared spine)

3 live

M3Feed preparation and pre-treatment

planned
  • 3.1Why pre-treat: refractory and locked feedsPlanned
  • 3.2Roasting, calcination and acid bakingPlanned
  • 3.3Pressure oxidation: the autoclave routePlanned
  • 3.4Bio-oxidation and bioleachingPlanned
  • 3.5Ultrafine grinding as chemical enablerPlanned

M4Leaching (the contacting families)

planned
  • 4.1Leach chemistry: dissolution reactions and stoichiometryPlanned
  • 4.2Kinetics: what controls ratePlanned
  • 4.3Tank leaching: residence time and sizingPlanned
  • 4.4Heap, dump and vat leaching: the percolation familyPlanned
  • 4.5In-situ recovery in briefPlanned
  • 4.6Pressure leaching: HPAL and friendsPlanned
  • 4.7Acid consumption and gangue: mineralogy sets opexPlanned

M5Solid–liquid separation and washing

planned
  • 5.1Thickening: settling, flocculation, underflow densityPlanned
  • 5.2Counter-current decantation: the principlePlanned
  • 5.3Wash ratio and wash efficiencyPlanned
  • 5.4Filtration and centrifugationPlanned
  • 5.5Soluble loss: what poor washing costsPlanned
  • 5.6Clarification and polishing: the Merrill-Crowe front end and friendsPlanned

M6Concentration and purification

planned
  • 6.1Why purify: impurities and product specsPlanned
  • 6.2Precipitation: pH control, hydroxides and carbonatesPlanned
  • 6.3Cementation: metal displacementPlanned
  • 6.4Adsorption: activated carbon and resin (CIL/CIP/RIP, columns)Planned
  • 6.5Elution and carbon regenerationPlanned
  • 6.6Solvent extraction in one sittingPlanned
  • 6.7Ion exchange in one sittingPlanned
  • 6.8Impurity management: Si, P, F, Fe — the circuit’s quiet warPlanned
  • 6.9Purification by re-dissolution: recrystallisation and gas-loop circuitsPlanned

M7Recovery and product

planned
  • 7.1Electrowinning fundamentals: the tankhousePlanned
  • 7.2Electrolyte properties and controlPlanned
  • 7.3Evaporation and crystallisation: concentration and recovery by solubilityPlanned
  • 7.4Precipitated products: hydroxides, carbonates, battery precursorsPlanned
  • 7.5The refining boundary: gold rooms, smelting interfacesPlanned

M8Closure: water, effluent and residue

planned
  • 8.1Water balance: where water enters and leavesPlanned
  • 8.2Effluent treatment and detox: cyanide destruction, neutralisationPlanned
  • 8.3Residue: tailings, red mud, leach residue — why density rulesPlanned
  • 8.4Heating and cooling duties in hydrometPlanned

M9The flowsheet families (capstone)

planned
  • 9.1Gold: leach–adsorb–elute–EW (CIL/CIP) + Merrill-Crowe variantPlanned
  • 9.2Copper: heap leach–SX–EW; concentrate POX variantPlanned
  • 9.3Zinc: roast–leach–purify (cementation)–EWPlanned
  • 9.4Nickel laterite: HPAL–neutralise–precipitatePlanned
  • 9.5Alumina: Bayer digestion–clarify/wash–seeded crystallise–calcinePlanned
  • 9.6Lithium: spodumene calcine–leach–purify–crystallise; brine routePlanned
  • 9.7Uranium: leach–IX/SX–precipitatePlanned
  • 9.8Battery recycling / black mass in briefPlanned
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