Application of Ionic Liquids in Hydrometallurgy

• Main Authors: Jesik Park, Yeojin Jung, Priyandi Kusumah, Jinyoung Lee, Kyungjung Kwon, Churl Kyoung Lee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2014-08-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: ionic liquid; hydrometallurgy; extraction; synthesis; processing; electrolysis
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/15/9/15320

Ionic liquids, low temperature molten salts, have various advantages manifesting themselves as durable and environmentally friendly solvents. Their application is expanding into various fields including hydrometallurgy due to their unique properties such as non-volatility, inflammability, low toxicity, good ionic conductivity, and wide electrochemical potential window. This paper reviews previous literatures and our recent results adopting ionic liquids in extraction, synthesis and processing of metals with an emphasis on the electrolysis of active/light, rare earth, and platinum group metals. Because the research and development of ionic liquids in this area are still emerging, various, more fundamental approaches are expected to popularize ionic liquids in the metal manufacturing industry.