Gabriela B.

Mendoza

the

Leaching
IS A UNIT OPERATION USED TO EXTRACT SOLUBLE COMPONENTS
FROM A SOLID USING A LIQUID SOLVENT. IT'S A VERSATILE
PROCESS WITH APPLICATIONS IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES,
INCLUDING CHEMICAL, MINERAL, AND METALLURGICAL
PROCESSING.

Single-Stage Leaching:
Process: Advantages: Disadvantages:
A solid feed is Simple to Lower
contacted with a implement, extraction
liquid solvent in a less energy efficiency
single stage, and required, and compared to
the resulting potentially multi-stage
leached solid lower systems.
and extracted environment
liquid leave the al impact.
stage together.

Examples:
1.) PACHUCA TANK
2.) STIRRED TANK
3.) HYDROCYCLONES
4.) DORR THICKENERS

Multi-Stage Leaching:
Process: Advantages: Disadvantages:

The leached Higher extraction More complex to

liquid from one efficiency, design and
stage is used potentially better operate, and may
as the solvent selectivity, and a require more
for the next streamlined equipment.
stage, allowing process.
for multiple
contacts
between the
solid and
liquid.

Examples:
1.) BOLLMAN EXTRACTORS
2.) ROTOCEL EXTRACTORS
 Gabriela B. Mendoza

the

Leaching
Equipments
In leaching solid containing solute is contacted to solvent in order to extract
solute from solid into solvent. Upon separation of two phases, the solution
phase normally contains no entertained solids,

Pachuca tank
Pachuca tanks are used for a wide variety
of leaching and mixing operations in the
minerals industry.

Appplications
USED FOR THE LEACHING OF
NONFERROUS MINERALS. THEY ARE
CYLINDRICAL VESSELS THAT NORMALLY
HAVE A CONICAL BOTTOM AND INCLUDE A
CENTRAL DRAFT TUBE. THE MINERAL
SLURRY CONTAINED IN THE TANK IS
AGITATED BY AIR BLOWN BELOW THE
LOWER ENTRANCE OF THE DRAFT
TUBE AND RISING THROUGH IT IN THE
FORM OF BUBBLES.

FOR THE LEACHING OF FINELY DIVIDED

SOLIDS, PACHUCA TANK IS USED. THIS
FINDS EXTENSIVE USE IN METALLURGICAL
INDUSTRIES. THESE TANKS ARE
CONSTRUCTED WITH WOOD, METAL OR
CONCRETE AND LINED WITH SUITABLE
MATERIAL DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF
LEACHING LIQUID.

Advantages
Efficient Aeration Versatile
Mixing Applications
Air agitation not Pachuca tanks can be
The use of air only mixes the pulp
agitation ensures used for a wide range
but also provides of leaching
thorough mixing of the necessary
the ore pulp and operations, including
oxygen for oxidation the extraction of
leaching solution, reactions, which are
leading to better metals from ores, as
crucial in some well as other
contact and leaching processes.
increased metal applications in the
dissolution. chemical and food
industries.

Disadvantages
Energy Solids Ineffectiveness
Consumption Concentratio with Refractory
n Limitation Ores

Agitation leaching Pachuca tanks are Pachuca tanks may not

in Pachuca tanks not well-suited for be as effective in
requires significant processing pulps leaching refractory
energy to drive the with solids ores, which contain
air supply for concentrations complex mineral
mixing, which can above 20%, which structures that are
increase can limit their difficult to dissolve.
operational costs. applicability in
certain mining
operations.
 Gabriela B. Mendoza

Stirred tank
a hydrometallurgical process where a solid material (e.g.,
ore, waste) is placed in a tank and mixed with a leaching
solution (e.g., acid, alkaline) to dissolve and extract desired
compounds. The tank has an agitator to ensure thorough
mixing and contact between the solid and liquid. This
process is used in various industries like mining, chemical
processing, and wastewater treatment for extracting
valuable metals, chemicals, or removing contaminants.

Appplications
ARE INDUSTRIAL VESSELS USED FOR MIXING,
BLENDING, AND CHEMICAL REACTIONS IN
VARIOUS INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING CHEMICAL
PROCESSING, PHARMACEUTICALS, FOOD AND
BEVERAGE, AND BIOTECHNOLOGY.

MINING: EXTRACTING METALS LIKE GOLD,

COPPER, ZINC, AND NICKEL FROM ORE.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT: REMOVING HEAVY
METALS OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS FROM
WASTEWATER.
CHEMICAL PROCESSING: EXTRACTING
CHEMICALS FROM VARIOUS MATERIALS.
FOOD INDUSTRY: EXTRACTING SUBSTANCES
LIKE SUGAR, FLAVOR, AND OIL.
PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY: EXTRACTING
ACTIVE PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENTS.

Advantages
Minimal Good
Ease of temperature
environmental
execution: control:
Stirred tank
impact:
Compared to The stirred tank
leaching is
pyrometallurgical design allows for
relatively simple
methods, stirred tank easy control of
to implement
leaching is less the temperature,
and operate,
harmful and produces which is crucial
making it a
fewer gaseous for optimizing the
practical
pollutants, leaching process.
choice for
contributing to a
various
cleaner process.
applications.

Disadvantages
Acidic and Efficiency Potential for
toxic waste: depends on slow dissolution
The leaching temperature: kinetics:
process can The efficiency
generate highly of the leaching In some cases, the
acidic residual process is dissolution of the
liquid waste influenced by target material in
and toxic temperature, the leaching
effluent, which and maintaining solution can be
require proper the optimal slow, affecting
treatment and temperature overall efficiency.
disposal. range can be
challenging.
 Gabriela B. Mendoza

hydrocyclone
a process that uses a hydrocyclone, a device that separates
materials based on their size and density, to enhance the
leaching of contaminants from soil. The hydrocyclone first
separates the soil into different size fractions, with smaller
particles potentially containing higher concentrations of
pollutants. Then, a leaching agent is used to remove the
contaminants from the separated fractions.

Appplications
Heavy Metal
Remediation:
Hydrocyclone leaching is
particularly effective for removing
heavy metals like cadmium (Cd),
lead (Pb), and copper (Cu) from
contaminated soils.

PCB Remediation:
It has also been used for the
removal of polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) from
contaminated soil.

Cyanide Recovery:
Hydrocyclones can be used in the
cyanidation process to recover
cyanide by releasing it from
complexes with metals, allowing
for its recycling.

Advantages
Improved
Reduced
Contaminant
Environmen
Removal
tal Impact:
The reduced
Hydrocyclone volume of
leaching can contaminated
significantly Reduced
material and
improve the Remediation lower
removal Costs: consumption of
efficiency of leaching agents
heavy metals By concentrating the
contaminated can minimize the
and other environmental
pollutants material,
hydrocyclone leaching impact of the
compared to remediation
traditional can reduce the
amount of soil that process.
leaching
methods. needs to be treated,
applications. lowering overall
remediation costs.
 Gabriela B. Mendoza

Dorr thickeners
used in leaching processes, particularly in a single-stage
setting, to separate solids from a liquid slurry and produce a
concentrated underflow (thickened pulp) and a clarified
overflow.
In a single-stage leaching operation, the ore slurry is
introduced into the thickener, where solids settle to the
bottom, and the clear liquid is decanted (overflow).

Appplications

Dorr thickeners are used in various The slurry is introduced into the
leaching applications, including thickener, and the solids settle to
cyanide leaching, acid leaching, the bottom. A rake mechanism,
and other hydrometallurgical rotating slowly, moves these
processes. solids to a central discharge
point. The clarified leach solution
(overflow) is decanted from the
top of the thickener.

Advantages
Lower Capital and High-Density
Maintenance Costs: Underflow:

typically have lower initial costs

Dorr thickeners, particularly deep
compared to other thickening
cone thickeners, can produce
technologies due to their simpler
high-density underflow slurry with
design, and they also have lower
a paste-like consistency.
maintenance costs because they
have fewer or no moving parts.

Disadvantages
Limitations in Handling Certain Solids:

They may not be ideal for all types of solids, especially those that
are highly fine or have poor settling characteristics.
 Gabriela B. Mendoza

BOLLMAN
EXTRACTORS
type of basket extractor, are commonly used in leaching
processes for extracting valuable components from solids,
such as oils from seeds or metals from ores,

Appplications
Food processing: Extracting oils
from seeds like soybeans,
sunflower seeds, and cotton
seeds.
Metallurgy: Leaching metals from
ores, such as gold leaching with
an aqueous sodium cyanide
solution.
Pharmaceuticals: Extracting
products from plant roots,
leaves, and stems.
Textile: Extracting dyes or
tanning extracts from bark or
other materials

Rotocel Extractor
A rotocel extractor is a piece of equipment used in
continuous solvent extraction, particularly for oil production,
where it plays a crucial role in the leaching process. It's
designed to continuously load, leach, drain, and unload
material, making it suitable for various plant oil extractions.

Appplications
Oil Extraction:
The primary application is in extracting oils from various plant seeds,
including cottonseed, soybean, rapeseed, peanut, sunflower seeds,
and more.
Extraction of Other Products:
Rotocel extractors can also be used for extracting other products,
such as peppermint oil, pepper red pigment, palm oil, wheat germ oil,
corn germ oil, grape seed oil, and evening primrose oil.
Continuous Operation:
They are designed for continuous operation, making them suitable for
large-scale oil production.
Improved Efficiency:
By using a rotocel extractor, the efficiency of oil production can be
improved, costs reduced, and the economic efficiency of oil plants
enhanced.
High-Quality Extraction:
The rotocel extractor helps to achieve high-quality oil extraction with
minimal residual oil in the dregs.