9. Conclusion

Hydrometallurgy calls on concepts of chemistry, electrochemistry and process engineering, and requires a high degree of multidisciplinary on the part of users. Using a wide range of techniques, it can solve many problems.

Initially applied to rich ores, it was later extended to poorer, polymetallic ores, as production costs were lower than with pyrometallurgy. Hydrometallurgy is the best way to treat complex, polymetallic metal-containing waste, as it is the only way to recover and separate the majority of metals contained in such waste (a cell phone today contains over 40 metals).

The many different types of leaching agents, purification methods and metal production processes have made it possible to apply hydrometallurgy to waste and water treatment. Thanks to its high selectivity, processes for treating waste such as electric steel mill...