Lixiviant

A lixiviant is a chemical used in hydrometallurgy to extract elements from its ore. ^{[1] [2]} One of the most famous lixiviants is cyanide, which is used in extracting 90% of mined gold. The combination of cyanide and air converts gold particles into a soluble salt. Once separated from the bulk gangue, the solution is processed in a series of steps to give the metal. ^[3]

Etymology

The origin is the word lixiviate , meaning to leach or to dissolve out, deriving from the Latin lixivium. ^[4] A lixiviant assists in rapid and complete leaching, for example during in situ leaching. The metal can be recovered from it in a concentrated form after leaching.

Further reading

• Laughlin, Robert B. (June 2009). "In Situ Leach (ISL) Mining of Uranium" (PDF). Introduction to the Physics of Energy PH240 - Fall 2010. Stanford University. Retrieved 2024-02-03.

References

1. American Institute of Mining Engineers (1917). Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, Volume 49. Princeton University: The Institute. p. 617.
2. Mular, Andrew; Halbe, Doug; Barratt, Derek, eds. (2002), Mineral Processing Plant Design, Practice, and Control Proceedings, Vancouver, Canada: Society of Mining Engineers, p. 1631, ISBN   0-87335-223-8
3. Renner, Hermann; Schlamp, Günther; Hollmann, Dieter; Lüschow, Hans Martin; Tews, Peter; Rothaut, Josef; Dermann, Klaus; Knödler, Alfons; Hecht, Christian; Schlott, Martin; Drieselmann, Ralf; Peter, Catrin; Schiele, Rainer (2000). "Gold, Gold Alloys, and Gold Compounds". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a12_499. ISBN   3527306730.
4. The New English Dictionary