RESEARCH targeting the behaviour of ionic liquids is set to benefit minerals processing applications as well as the environment.
The CSIRO is conducting research to apply ionic liquids in minerals processing, especially to dissolve metals.
Ionic liquids are a form of molten salts that dissolve at room temperature. Minerals processing traditionally involves the use of either aqueous electrolytes or other molten salts that require very high temperatures to dissolve.
CSIRO researcher, Dr. Yansen Lauw, says the organisation is working to avoid high temperatures and try to use ionic liquids as a solvent to dissolve metal oxides.
The use of ionic liquids could remove the need for extreme temperatures, which would make the process more cost effective and environmentally friendly.
Lauw says the CSIRO is still dealing with fundamentals and the practical use of ionic liquids in the minerals processing industry is “still some time away”.
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