Answer to Question #75977 in Inorganic Chemistry for Mahesh

Question

In which cases is hydrometallurgy applicable in such cases how are the leached out metals recovered from solutions explain with suitable examples.

Answer 1

Hydrometallurgy is the extraction of metals from ores, concentrates and various waste products. Hydrometallurgy is typically divided into three general areas: leaching, solution concentration and purification, metal or metal compound recovery.

The metals or their compounds are precipitated from the solution by electrolysis (copper, zinc, and other metals), by cementation, which is reduction by more electronegative metals (such as copper, silver or gold), by sorption, using ion-exchange resins or carbon, and by liquid extraction of the metal compounds using organic solvents.