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Advances in the extractive metallurgy of selected rare and precious metals

  • 1991 Review of Extractive Metallurgy
  • Published:
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Abstract

The broad field of extractive metallurgy, often perceived as an unimportant point of light in the universe of technology, has undergone significant, fundamental changes in the past 30 years. Improved extraction technologies now permit greater metal recovery, reduce the time that metal values are chemically locked up and diminish the economic impact of environmental regulations. Much of this accomplishment is due to the application of solvent extraction. As evidenced by improvements in the extraction of rare and precious metals, research in extractive metallurgy technology not only exists, but has achieved palpable results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jan H. Reimers and Associates USA, Inc., USA

    James E. Hoffmann (president of the extractive metallurgy consulting firm, member of TMS)

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  1. James E. Hoffmann
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Editor’s Note

This article is adapted and updated from the 24th Sir Julius Wernher Memorial Lecture of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy (U.K.), delivered July 10,1989, at the conference Extraction Metallurgy ’89 and published the same month by Minerals Industry International (pp. 5-16). Its message is as timely now as the day it was delivered.

Author’s Note

I should like to request the indulgence of the many scientists and engineers who developed and implemented the processes that are described here. Much of what is presented below is already known to them in greater detail and accuracy, but it is hoped that by the inclusion of a variety of rare and precious metals and their attendant technologies some useful information will be provided to all readers.

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Hoffmann, J.E. Advances in the extractive metallurgy of selected rare and precious metals. JOM 43, 18–23 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03220539

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