Outlook and developments
Leaching foams - Reducing the impact of metal mining

This article presents a proof of concept on a model substrate for the use of a leaching foam in hydrometallurgy. Based on this initial result, research can be pursued in two directions.

First of all, it would be necessary to get closer to the application by studying the possibilities of leaching a substrate with a geometry close to the shredded waste. The most direct solution, mixing the shredded waste with the foam, has a number of drawbacks. These include the risk of incomplete dispersion, with some residues sedimenting and ending up in the liquid phase beneath the foam, and others remaining on the surface, similar to what is observed in flotation. The stability of the foam in the presence of these grindings is another factor that can prove problematic. Even in the absence of these difficulties, the need to agitate the foam to accelerate the leaching reaction...