Special Topics (Principles of Metal Production II)
- Introduction to the importance of mass and energy balances in the metal extraction industries
- System of units and their conversion
- Molar and mass conversion for compounds and elements
- Principles of mass balance calculations in non-reacting systems, Examples from mineral concentration and metal purification
- Stoichiometry concepts: extent of reaction and equilibrium constant, conversion, recovery and yield
- Mass balance in reacting systems: Independent chemical reactions. atomic and molecular species balance method. Examples in reacting systems such as fuel combustion, reduction of metal compounds and aqueous systems
- Solving materials and energy balances using software
- Application of first law of thermodynamics in energy balances. Simultaneous mass and energy balances in non-reacting systems, recovery and energy efficiency
- Energy balances in reacting systems. Thermal constraints on a material balance; combustion of fuels, metal reduction, electrowinning.