The Hydrometallurgy department focuses on the utilization of aqueous solutions for the recovery of valuable metals from ores, concentrates and recycled or residual materials, in an economically viable and environmentally sustainable manner. Hydrometallurgical processes include leaching, precipitation, cementation, ion exchange, absorption and solvent extraction.
Department’s main activities are:
Research and development of hydrometallurgical methods of processing
Studies on aqueous chemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics in hydrometallurgical processes
Development and design of hydrometallurgical flowsheets
Design and execution of laboratory and pilot scale trials for process testing and optimization
Description | Capacities | Application |
---|---|---|
Jaw Crusher FRITSCH PULVERISETTE 1 | Maximum continuous throughput: 140-200 kg/h. Maximum particle size of feed material: 60-95mm. Final particle size: 1-15mm. | Fast pre-crushing of hard, medium-hard and brittle materials |
Planetary Ball Mill FRITSCH PULVERISETTE 6 | Useful Capacity: 10-125ml sample volume Maximum particle size of feed material: 10mm Final particle size: ~1μm | Fast and precise milling of dry samples |
Sieving device RETSCH AS 200 and series of vibrating sieves | Opening lattice diameter of available sieves: 40mm down to 45μm | Dry sieving – grain size distribution of crushed materials |
Leaching device | 3 samples/day | Characterization of waste according to EN 12457-04 |
Atomic Absorption Spectrometers (AAS) PERKIN ELMER AAnalyst 800 | Flame (FAAS), Graphite Furnace (GFAAS). Quantitative mono-element analysis down to ppb levels | Elemental determination of liquid and solid samples |
X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) | Qualitative and semi-quantitative mineralogical analysis | Differentiation between amorphous and crystalline materials and identification of crystalline phases |
The Analytical Chemistry Department supports chemical analyses of solid and liquid samples, for Quality Control and R&D purposes. Our laboratory services include the following activities: ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation for a wide
ELKEME, Hellenic Research Centre for Metals S.A.
ELKEME was founded in 1999 to support the Hellenic Metallurgical Industry. Through a variety of state-of-the-art laboratories ELKEME focuses on industrial research and technological development/analysis in four major metal sectors: Aluminum, Copper, Steel and Zinc, providing efficient solutions to our customers.