Advances at the Sulphide Mineral/Solution Interface: Improved Metal Extraction and Energy Storage

硫化物矿物/溶液界面的进展：改进金属提取和能量存储

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-04840
• 负责人: Asselin, Edouard
• 金额: $ 2.7万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=686878
• 关键词: Advances; Sulphide; Mineral; Solution; Interface

Metals vital materials for modern civilization are required for their ubiquitous use as conductors, as building materials and in transportation. Metals such as copper, zinc and nickel are generally mineralized in the form of sulphides. The main economic production methods for these metals from their sulphides essentially relies on a scaled-up version of Bronze age technology: smelting or roasting. Because metals consumption has increased at a compound rate of approximately 3% per annum since 1850, and because ore grades are declining worldwide, metal markets are at a crossroads: in future how will we economically and responsibly extract these metals? To answer this question, research in the area of aqueous processing of the copper sulphide, chalcopyrite, has been ongoing worldwide for over 50 years with no viable solution because chalcopyrite resists oxidative breakdown in most practical leaching environments. Thankfully, detailed studies of the chalcopyrite/solution interface, using modern electrochemical and surface analysis techniques, have led to a breakthrough. A soluble organic catalyst that overcomes this problem has been identified. This proposal discusses a program to confirm the mechanism of catalysis and to identify new catalysts that will perform as well or better. Further, we will explore the use of the catalyst system for other sulphide minerals such as pentlandite (nickel) and sphalerite (zinc). ******The electrochemical studies aimed at chalcopyrite leaching have led to another discovery that could change the metals industry. To date, extractive industries have used sulphide minerals for producing copper, nickel and zinc. However, these minerals possess intrinsic properties that could be used for purposes other than metal production. Indeed, for example, chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) is a well known natural semiconductor that has been studied for use as cathode material in lithium batteries and as an active layer in photovoltaics. There exists a dichotomy between the current use of sulphide minerals for metal production and its potential application as an energy material. But what if we could combine these two uses? What if we could employ these natural, readily available materials for the purposes of energy storage and production as well as for a source of metals? Using the electrochemical and surface analysis methods that are central to this proposal, we will explain how sulphide mineral flow batteries could revolutionize the metals industry.

金属是现代文明的重要材料，因为它们无处不在地用作导体、建筑材料和运输工具。铜、锌和镍等金属通常以硫化物的形式矿化。从硫化物中生产这些金属的主要经济方法基本上依赖于青铜时代技术的升级版：熔炼或焙烧。自1850年以来，金属消费量以每年约3%的复合增长率增长，并且由于全球矿石品位正在下降，金属市场正处于十字路口：未来我们将如何经济和负责任地提取这些金属？为了回答这个问题，在硫化铜黄铜矿的水处理领域的研究已经在世界范围内进行了50多年，没有可行的解决方案，因为黄铜矿在大多数实际浸出环境中抵抗氧化分解。值得庆幸的是，使用现代电化学和表面分析技术对黄铜矿/溶液界面进行的详细研究取得了突破。已经确定了克服该问题的可溶性有机催化剂。该提案讨论了一个程序，以确认催化机制，并确定新的催化剂，将执行以及或更好。此外，我们将探索催化剂系统用于其他硫化物矿物，如镍黄铁矿（镍）和闪锌矿（锌）。** 针对黄铜矿浸出的电化学研究带来了另一项可能改变金属行业的发现。迄今为止，采掘业一直使用硫化物矿物生产铜、镍和锌。然而，这些矿物具有内在的特性，可用于金属生产以外的目的。实际上，例如，黄铜矿（CuFeS 2）是众所周知的天然半导体，其已经被研究用作锂电池中的阴极材料和用作光致发光中的活性层。目前将硫化物矿物用于金属生产与其作为能源材料的潜在用途之间存在着分歧。但如果我们能把这两种用途联合收割机结合起来呢？如果我们能够利用这些自然的、容易获得的材料来储存和生产能量，以及作为金属的来源，那会怎么样？使用电化学和表面分析方法，这是核心的建议，我们将解释如何硫化物矿物液流电池可以彻底改变金属行业。