Institute adds to capabilities with investment in new Hydrometallurgy Laboratory
Our hydrometallurgy laboratory is a specialised facility with state-of-the-art equipment enabling research and development of hydrometallurgical techniques for metals recovery that will be economically viable and environmentally sustainable.
Research includes activities to assess how hydrometallurgical technology can be integrated into other processes.
Activities
We provide hydrometallurgy research and development from laboratory scale to pilot scale. This enables us to work with industry and partners to develop efficient methods to extract metals from minerals or other materials.
The Hydrometallurgy Laboratory carries out the following activities:
• Development of hydrometallurgical methods of processing
• Laboratory and pilot scale trials for hydrometallurgical process testing and optimisation
• Hydrometallurgical extraction tests
• Kinetic and thermodynamic analysis
• Process intensification and modelling to improve the whole process performance
The Hydrometallurgy Laboratory carries out the following processes:
• Leaching – To dissolve metals from ores
• Precipitation – To remove dissolved metals from liquids
• Purification – To remove impurities
• Solution Concentration – To achieve the desired metal ions in solution
• Recycling – To recover industrial by-products, electronic waste, and batteries
• Waste Management – To help with disposal of hazardous materials
• Process Optimisation – To make metal recovery more efficient
Our capability in hydrometallurgical processes allows cutting-edge research to be carried out which helps industry with innovative approaches to improve and optimise hydrometallurgical processes.
Equipment
The range of equipment in this laboratory enables all stages of the hydrometallurgical process to be investigated.
• Heated Reaction Vessels for wet chemistry applications including leaching and precipitation reactions. 2 litre and 20 litre vessels available
• Titration setups for pH adjustments
• Vacuum filtration systems for solid and liquid separation
• Analytical balances for accurate weighing
• Fume hoods for handling volatile chemicals
Investment in this Hydrometallurgy Laboratory has been supported by the Foundation Industries Sustainability Consortium (FISC) EconoMISER programme. FISC brings together global leaders in innovation, research, and technology to revolutionise sustainability across the Foundation Industries.
https://www.mpiuk.com/laboratories-hydrometallurgy.htm
7 January 2025
