Hidrometalúrgico

Hidrometalúrgico refers to a branch of extractive metallurgy that utilizes aqueous chemistry to recover metals from their ores, concentrates, or recycled materials. This process involves dissolving the desired metal or its compounds into an aqueous solution, followed by separation and purification steps to obtain the pure metal or a valuable metal compound. Common hydrometallurgical processes include leaching, solvent extraction, ion exchange, and precipitation. Leaching is the initial step where a chemical reagent (leachant) is used to selectively dissolve the target metal from the solid material. The resulting pregnant leach solution, containing the dissolved metal ions, is then subjected to further treatment. Solvent extraction uses organic solvents to selectively transfer the metal ions from the aqueous phase to the organic phase, allowing for separation from impurities. Ion exchange employs solid resins with functional groups that attract and bind specific metal ions. Precipitation involves altering solution conditions, such as pH or temperature, to cause the dissolved metal to form a solid compound that can be filtered out. Finally, the recovered metal can be obtained in its metallic form through processes like electrowinning or by producing a valuable compound. Hydrometallurgy is often favored for low-grade ores, complex mineral assemblages, and for the recycling of certain metals due to its selectivity and ability to operate at lower temperatures compared to pyrometallurgical methods.