Mineral processing is crucial, but it’s energy-hungry! Here are the most intensive energy processes in order of importance:
- Comminution (Crushing and Grinding): This process, reducing ore particle size, is by far the largest energy consumer, often accounting for 50-70% of total energy use in a typical mining operation (Norgate and al, 2010). This is due to the inherent inefficiency of breaking rock, with most energy dissipated as heat.
- Pyrometallurgical Processes (Smelting, Roasting): These high-temperature processes, used to extract metals from ores, require substantial thermal energy, often from fossil fuels or electricity (Rosenqvist, 2004). Examples include smelting copper concentrates and producing steel.
- Hydrometallurgical Processes (Leaching, Electrowinning): While often considered less energy-intensive than pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgical processes like electrowinning, used to recover metals from solutions, still consume significant electrical energy. [4] Also, heating of leaching solutions can add to the energy consumption.
Tell us more about intensive processes in mineral processing.
References:
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Norgate, T. E., & Jahanshahi, S. (2010). Energy and greenhouse gas impacts of mining and mineral processing operations. Journal of cleaner production, 18(3), 266-274.
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Rosenqvist, T. (2004). Principles of extractive metallurgy. Tapir academic press.
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Habashi, F. (2016). A textbook of hydrometallurgy. Metallurgie Extractive Quebec.
