The future extraction of deep-ocean mineral deposits depends on being able to recover the metals in an economic and environmentally sensitive way. Metal production is one of the most energy intensive industrial sectors. The characteristics of some deep-ocean mineral deposits permit them to be readily dissolved and to release their contained metals into solution. Current innovations in hydrometallurgy, including metal leaching with ionic liquids and solvent extraction in non-dispersive phase contactors, demonstrate how metals could potentially be extracted from Fe–Mn deposits with increased energy efficiency and a reduced environmental footprint compared with traditional processing techniques. The importance of biological processes in the formation of deep-ocean Fe–Mn deposits is poorly understood. However, understanding how microorganisms select and deposit metal ions could further enhance targeted extraction of ‘critical’ metals.
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Research Article|
October 01, 2018
Metal Extraction from Deep-Ocean Mineral Deposits
Mikhail V. Zubkov;
Mikhail V. Zubkov
National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK (Present address: Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, PA37 1QA, UK) E-mail: [email protected]
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Pawel K. Plucinski;
Pawel K. Plucinski
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
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Adrien C. Y. Dartiguelongue;
Adrien C. Y. Dartiguelongue
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
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Paul A. J. Lusty
Paul A. J. Lusty
British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK E-mail: [email protected]
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Mikhail V. Zubkov
National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK (Present address: Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, PA37 1QA, UK) E-mail: [email protected]
Pawel K. Plucinski
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Adrien C. Y. Dartiguelongue
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Paul A. J. Lusty
British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK E-mail: [email protected]
Publisher: Mineralogical Society of America
First Online:
08 Oct 2018
Online ISSN: 1811-5217
Print ISSN: 1811-5209
Copyright © 2018 by the Mineralogical Society of America
Mineralogical Society of America
Elements (2018) 14 (5): 319–324.
Article history
First Online:
08 Oct 2018
Citation
Mikhail V. Zubkov, Pawel K. Plucinski, Adrien C. Y. Dartiguelongue, Paul A. J. Lusty; Metal Extraction from Deep-Ocean Mineral Deposits. Elements 2018;; 14 (5): 319–324. doi: https://doi.org/10.2138/gselements.14.5.319
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Index Terms/Descriptors
- biogenic processes
- chelation
- deep-sea environment
- Eh
- ferromanganese composition
- ferromanganese crusts
- hydrometallurgy
- hydroxides
- iron
- iron ores
- leachate
- leaching
- ligands
- manganese
- manganese ores
- marine environment
- metal ores
- metallurgy
- metals
- microorganisms
- mineral deposits, genesis
- mining
- ocean floors
- oxidation
- oxides
- precipitation
- recovery
- solvents
- trace metals
- Bacteria
- critical metals
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