Por: Dr. Fathi Habashi, Departamento de Minería, Metalurgia e Ingeniería de Materiales Universidad Laval, Quebec, Canadá.

Abstract

In the past centuries pyrometallurgy was the only route to extract metals from ores and this was for a good reason. Today metallurgists have the option to use other technology in particular the hydrometallurgical route. For example, the recovery of zinc and copper have switched over from pyro- to hydrometallurgical technology. Another example is the recovery of alumina from bauxite - an essential step in the production of aluminum. Today, a new technology for aluminum electrolytic production excluding carbon reduction is under research to eliminate CO₂ production.