Process kinetics and thermodynamics

Process kinetic and thermodynamic principles allow us to control processes and anticipate or track chemical and physical changes in minerals, metals, solutions or other phases in recovery processes. By measuring reaction rates and studying processes such as complexation or ion association as well as the interaction of slag and molten metal feeds, we improve the performance efficiency of different process technologies and the quality of the recovered minerals and metals. 

This way, we optimize the metal recovery from raw materials, for example: 

• Ion-exchange mechanisms for lithium recovery from industrial effluents of lithium-ion battery recycling operations
• Oxidative leaching of a sulfidic flue dust of former copper shale processing with focus on rhenium
• Computing single-particle flotation kinetics using automated mineralogy data and machine learning