Progress Report

A Comparison of Solvent Extraction and Ion

Exchange for Cu, Co, Ni & U

Callum Biggs - 20498066

School of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering
University of Western Australia

Supervisor
Professor Slobodanka Vukcevic
School of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering

Progress Report - Proposal

1 T ABLE OF C ONTENTS
1.
1.1
1.2
1.3

Proposal............................................................................................................................... 2
Problem & Context .................................................................................................................. 2
Outcome................................................................................................................................... 2
Current Thesis Heading Plan ................................................................................................... 2

2 Research Methods ............................................................................................................... 2

3 Progress ............................................................................................................................... 2
3.1 Project Plan .............................................................................................................................. 2
3.1.1
3.1.2

Gantt Chart............................................................................................................................ 3
Critical Path Analysis ................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

3.2 Current Progress ...................................................................................................................... 2

3.3 Commentary .............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
4
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4

Literature Review................................................................................................................. 3
Approach Used ........................................................................................................................ 3
Industrial Overview .................................................................................................................. 3
Aqueous Chemistry and Thermodynamics............................................................................. 3
Leaching ................................................................................................................................... 3

4.4.1
4.4.2
4.4.3
4.4.4
4.4.5

Leaching Kinetics & Principles................................................................................................ 3

Cu Leaching ........................................................................................................................... 3
Co Leaching ........................................................................................................................... 3
Ni Leaching ............................................................................................................................ 3
U Leaching ............................................................................................................................. 3

4.5 SX Principles ............................................................................................................................. 3

4.5.1
4.5.2
4.5.3
4.5.4
4.5.5

Principles ............................................................................................................................... 3
Cu SX...................................................................................................................................... 3
Co SX...................................................................................................................................... 3
Ni SX ...................................................................................................................................... 3
U SX ....................................................................................................................................... 3

4.6 IX Principles .............................................................................................................................. 3

4.7 References ............................................................................................................................... 3

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Progress Report - Proposal

1. P ROPOSAL
1.1 P ROBLEM & C ONTEXT

1.2 O UTCOME
The final goal of this thesis is to compare the use of Solvent Extraction and Ion Exchange for
the extraction and purification of Cu, Co, Ni & U. This comparison should allow for
recommendations regarding ideal choices to achieve best practices for the implementation
of either SX or IX in future plant developments.

1.3 C URRENT T HESIS H EADING P LAN

A framework of the final thesis headings will allow for a more focused research and final
analysis of the collected information. The current headline plan that follows is still only just a
blue print, and finality of each headline has been indicated.

2 R ESEARCH M ETHODS
Research is to consist of the study of three primary sources of information
1. Fundamental Textbooks
2. Research Papers
3. Plant Case Studies
Due to the large scope of the processes to be compared, it will be essential that a strong
foundation be established in hydrometallurgy in general, the upstream processes for each
metal and of the fundamentals of solvent extraction and ion exchange. It is through study of
general hydrometallurgical textbooks that this foundation will be formed.
More detailed understandings of the established practices and emerging technologies for
solvent extraction and ion will be gained through the study of research papers and
engineering plant case studies. This detailed knowledge will be that from which the
comparison of the two technologies will be made from.

3 P ROGRESS
3.1 C URRENT P ROGRESS
3.2 U PDATED O BJECTIVES
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Progress Report - Literature Review

3.3 U PDATED P ROJECT P LAN

3.3.1

G A NT T C H A R T

4 L ITERATURE R EVIEW
4.1 A PPROACH U SED
4.2 I NDUSTRIAL O VERVIEW
(Metallurgical Extraction Principles Written notes, try to blend in with other stuff)

4.3 A QUEOUS C HEMISTRY AND T HERMODYNAMICS

4.4 L EACHING
4.4.1
4.4.2
4.4.3
4.4.4
4.4.5

L E A CH I NG K I NE T IC S & P R I N CI PLE S
C U L E A CH I NG
C O L E A CH I NG
N I L E A CH I NG
U L E A CH I NG

4.5 SX
4.5.1
4.5.2
4.5.3
4.5.4
4.5.5

P RI N CI P LE S
C U SX
C O SX
N I SX
U SX

4.6 IX P RINCIPLES
4.6.1
4.6.2
4.6.3
4.6.4
4.6.5

P RI N CI P LE S
C U IX
C O IX
N I IX
U IX

4.7 R EFERENCES

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