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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/S87713/01
Title: Base metal recovery using zwitterionic metal-salt extractants
Principal Investigator: Tasker, Professor P
Other Investigators:
Leigh, Professor D Gale, Professor PA
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Cytec Industries Inc Jaguar Nickel Inc Noranda Falconbridge
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Department: Sch of Chemistry
Organisation: University of Edinburgh
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 27 July 2004 Ends: 26 July 2007 Value (£): 180,263
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Chemical Synthetic Methodology Mining & Minerals Extraction
Separation Processes
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Chemicals Water
Related Grants:
GR/S87720/01
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The programme aims to provide the enabling technology for recovery of base metals from lateritic ores. The large projected increase in demand for nickel and cobalt has led the Mining Industry to seek new primary sources for these metals and this has resulted in the development of new leaching technology to allow laterite ores to be processed hydrometallurgically in chloride or sulfate sloutions. A key requirement for green flowsheets using these sulfate or chloride feeds is the development of efficient unit operations for concentration and separation. Existing technology is not suited to these operations, but new reagents which transport metal salts across a circuit are capable of giving much better materials balances. Similar advantages are also possible in flowsheets for metal recycling, allowing recovery from secondary sources, but the main focus of this proposal is to define proof of concept for recovery from primary sources. Specifically the first generation of selective pH-switchable zwitterionic receptors for transition metal salts (which contain both transition metal and selective anion binding sites) will be designed, synthesised and tested.
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Organisation Website: http://www.ed.ac.uk