The Environment: Driving Hydrometallurgical Process Development

Professor Sehliselo Ndlovu from the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering will deliver her inaugural lecture.

Hydrometallurgy is one of the key branches of extractive metallurgy that has seen significant technological advancements since the 1880s. From rudimentary metal extraction methods to the more advanced modern techniques, the evolution continues to shape the aqueous metal extraction industry. Most of developments have, however, seldom been knowledge-driven, but rather, driven by concerns attributed to issues such as the need for higher purity metal products, economics of a processing route, variations in grade and complexity of the feed material as well as changes in environmental and safety regulations. Using some of the developments observed in gold and copper as examples, this presentation will look at how environmental concerns have contributed to advancing technological changes in the hydrometallurgical sector.

Add event to calendar