University To Develop Environmentally Friendly Metal Extraction Technologies

10:06, November 30, 2022

This will allow the processing of ore and raw materials containing toxic compounds [photo report]

The Ural Federal University will develop environmentally friendly technologies for extracting noble and rare metals from complex mineral and technogenic raw materials. On the one hand, this will make it possible to process ore that contains such toxic components as, for example, arsenic, antimony, and lead. On the other hand, the noble metals will be extracted from the ore, which earlier was considered unsuitable for this purpose and was stored in the dumps, for example. A new scientific laboratory in this field was opened in the Ural Federal University. Zharasul Abduraimov, president of Kyrgyzindustry, took part in the opening ceremony.

"Our research is aimed at solving several problems at once. Firstly, to solve the global technogenic problem of involving in the processing of various unconventional raw materials containing highly toxic components. This, in turn, will increase the level of environmental friendliness of production by recycling both new raw materials and already accumulated technogenic materials, which will certainly have a favorable effect on the ecosystem and human health. Secondly, new technologies will make it possible to process resources that were previously considered unsuitable for this purpose. In this way we will expand the mineral resource base of non-ferrous, noble, and rare metals and get additional benefit through the production of new high-quality products," explains Denis Rogozhnikov, Head of the Laboratory of Advanced Technologies for Complex Processing of Mineral and Technogenic Raw Materials, Non-Ferrous and Ferrous Metals at the Ural Federal University.

Currently, the scientists already have a head start. For example, employees of the laboratory have developed a technology of atmospheric leaching of refractory polymetallic raw materials of non-ferrous and noble metals. Despite the high complexity and diversity of raw material compositions and the difficult accessibility of valuable metals in it, the technology makes it possible to achieve high technical, economic and environmental performance. The first pilot tests of this technology were conducted by the scientists together with Kazakhmys Corporation.

"We are also actively developing cooperation with industrial partners from both the Urals region and Russia, as well as from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. With industrial partners we study hydrometallurgical processes, stripping of refractory mineral and technogenic raw materials, selective extraction of components from raw materials, and develop methods for their extraction. In addition, we are working on secondary processing of magnets to obtain new types of products," adds Denis Rogozhnikov.

Reference

The laboratory was established within the framework of the national project "Science and Universities" and the Ural Interregional Research and Education Center "Advanced Industrial Technologies and Materials" (under the projects "Integrated recycling of technogenic waste" and "Development of technology for production of rare-earth metals with high frequency") and corresponds to the direction "Ecology of urban environment and industry".

The research will be conducted by 22 employees, 90% of whom are under 39 years old. At the same time, the scientists have grants from the Russian Science Foundation, the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, the President of the Russian Federation, victories in the competition for the best scientific publications and the creation of research centers (under the Priority 2030 program), as well as scholarships from the Government and the President of the Russian Federation, and etc. 

The news article was translated by UrFU International Marketing Office
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