This issue documents research and development activities that utilize electrochemical principles and techniques to achieve practical objectives in applications ranging from processing crude ore to production of value-added materials. The focus will be on identifying opportunities for future progression that utilize the latest understanding of electrochemical mechanisms in processing systems.
"The sixth International Symposium on Electrochemistry in Mineral and Metal Processing was held during the 2003rd Meeting of the Electrochemical Society, Inc., in Paris, France, May 14-18, 2003."--p. iii.
This issue of ECS Transactions contains papers on electrochemical aspects of concentrating and extracting base, precious and light metals from their ores and secondary materials, and associated energy and environmental considerations. Both fundamental and applied work is covered with emphasis on recent progress in: (1) mineral flotation, (2) hydrometallurgy, (3) electrowinning and refining, (4) environmental technologies associated with mineral and metal processing, (5) electrochemical methods for secondary metal production, and (6) recovery of metals from wastes.
Utilization of high sulfur coals is becoming increasingly difficult in view of tighter environmental regulations being imposed around the world. To meet the challenge of utilizing high sulfur coals without damaging the environment, many scientists and engineers around the world are engaged in developing novel technologies. In the U.S.A. alone, the federal government has spent about five billion dollars to achieve that goal. This conference, like its predecessors, emphasizes desulfurization with papers on physical and chemical cleaning as well as post-treatment and fluid-bed combustion technologies. Of the 45 papers submitted, 15 papers deal with physical cleaning and 7 deal with chemical cleaning of coal, suggesting that a major emphasis is still be placed on pre-cleaning of coal. The post-treatment technologies, being developed with the support of U.S. federal and state government agencies, emphasize removal of both SOx and NOx gases. The book will be of particular interest and benefit to researchers, graduate students and other people involved in coal processing, characterization and utilization; public policy making and administration related to energy conservation, economic development, and environmental protection; and investors in industry and new technology.
