Fecha de publicación: 01/01/2025 Fuente: Asqueous Extraction Byproducts Abstract
Today there are several successful case histories demonstrating the suitability and long service life of fiber-reinforced polymer, FRP, based equipment in hydrometallurgical extraction plants used to refine copper, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth metals. FRP is being considered as a material of choice for the construction of lithium extraction systems from geothermal water or other traditional sources. The chemical environments found in modern extraction systems are extremely corrosive. These systems must be fabricated from materials that are durable against corrosion, meet mechanical requirements, and perform economically over the life of the plant. In these systems, FRP provides improved durability relative to alternative materials of construction. This paper will compare the corrosion performance of plant equipment fabricated with corrosion-resistant alloys, rubber-lined steel, and FRP made with epoxy vinyl ester thermoset resins. Case histories for FRP piping, storage tanks, extraction vessels, and electrowinning cells combined with laboratory-based corrosion studies will be reviewed to demonstrate how FRP materials are selected for hydrometallurgical equipment. Data showing the suitability of FRP for lithium extraction will also be reviewed.