1. Introduction
The Mineral Processing and Recycling Lab has been involved in several R&D projects over the last 10 years, working on the development of specific hydrometallurgical processes for processing minerals and secondary materials (wastes) into high value and high purity products. Projects which have been commercialized from the R&D outcome of this laboratory include high purity gold (>99.999% Au) processing, processing of Mo-Cu liquors and fumes to produce high purity Mo xide and Cu metal, production of specialty alumina,etc. The laboratories have developed a process to recover high purity Mn sulphate from Fe-Mn fumes, the technology of which was transferred to Dong Bu Metals in December 2012.
2. Research Areas
○ Development of mineral processing and hydrometallurgical processes
In general, the R&D projects conducted have included testwork programs to develop process design parameters for processing minerals and secondary materials into high purity products. The scheme includes all unit operations involved in mineral processing covering comminution, beneficiation and hydrometallurgy.
○ Development of solvent extraction technology
The research in this area involves the development of a process for solvent extraction, applying commercially available solvent for extracting metals of interest into solution for concentration and recovery as high purity products.
The research includes equilibrium study of various aqueous/organic systems to derive McCabe Thiele diagrams for process development. From the data collected in the laboratory, plant circuits can be developed, including stage design and process plant production.
○ Development of ion exchange technology
In conjunction with other purification techniques such as precipitation, solvent extraction, work on ion exchange resins is also being conducted at the laboratory for implementing schemes to selectively remove metal ions from the process liquor before final product recovery. The research includes loading testing of various resins on process liquors to determine loading and ion exchange characteristics and to determine operating parameters for resin column operations (flow rate, breakthrough characteristics, etc.)
3. Research Activities(2010~Present)
○ Recovery of Mn as Manganese sulphate monohydrate (MSM) from Fe-Mn fumes (2012)
○ Development of Technology for Lithium Carbonate from domestic and Foreign Li-bearing Resources (2010~2013)
○ Recovery of silicon and valuable metals from waste PV modules (2011~2013)
○ Santo Domingo iron concentrate economics study (2013)
4. Contact
300-Yongbong-Dong, Buk-Gu, Gwangju, 500-757, KOREA
Chonnam National University, Energy & Resource Engineering Department
Tel +82-62-530-0462
Fax +82-62-530-0462