Hydrometallurgy

Group Web Site: The Hydromet Group


General Group Overview

The Hydrometallurgy Group at the department of Materials Engineering focuses on hydrometallurgy-related materials issues. We are especially interested in developing novel hydrometallurgy processes and applications.

Graduate Studies

Hydrometallurgy is a multidisciplinary field. Great opportunities are open to enthusiastic students with education background in Physics, Chemistry, Materials and other engineering fields. Graduate students can register for either a Ph.D. or an M.A.Sc. degree in the Departments of Materials Engineering.

Undergraduate Studies

Undergraduate students may choose the Hydrometallurgy option and learn hydrometallurgy through our lecture courses, and the design projects. Students may also apply for Co-op students or research assistants in above hydrometallurgy projects.

History

The University of British Columbia and the department of Materials Engineering have a rich history in the field of Hydrometallurgy.  The work of Frank Forward (our department head from 1945-1954) and other collaborators, led to the development of the Sherritt process for the hydrometallurgical recovery of nickel and cobalt from sulphide concentrates.  Further work by Forward and Veltman also in the late 1950s led to the industry standard zinc pressure leach process.

Research Areas

Today the department undertakes fundamental and applied research in all areas related to hydrometallurgy.  Some areas of research include:

  1. Atmospheric and pressure leaching including heap and bio-leaching
  2. Electrometallurgy including electrowinning and electrorefining
  3. Corrosion and electrochemistry

Recent hydrometallurgical process developments include the Anglo American/UBC, the GalvanoxTM and the Jetti processes for copper leaching.  The PLATSOL (base and precious metal extraction) and Sepon processes (secondary copper sulphides) were also developed in collaboration with UBC.


Faculty

Edouard Asselin

Professor

Corrosion, Hydrometallurgy

Office: FF 207

Research Interests

Hydrometallurgy, electrochemistry, corrosion

Amir M. Dehkhoda

Assistant Professor of Teaching

Hydrometallurgy

Office: FF 106B

Research Interests

Engineering leadership, enhancing student engagement and learning experience via generative AI, development of Open Educational Resources (OER), problem-based learning

David Dixon

Professor

Hydrometallurgy

Office: FF 409

Research Interests

Hydrometallurgy process analysis and design, mathematical modelling, heap leaching, fluid flow and mass transfer, leaching kinetics, fixed bed processing

David Dreisinger

Professor

Hydrometallurgy

Office: FF 415

Research Interests

Hydrometallurgy, solvent extraction, electrochemical kinetics, waste treatment, biohydro-metallurgy, ion exchange, process modelling

Wenying Liu

Associate Professor

Hydrometallurgy

Office: FF 209

Research Interests

Use of sea water in heap leaching, release of selenium and associated toxic elements from mine waste materials, heap leach modelling