Jump to content
Outotec® Solution Purification technologies consist of different combinations of commonly used processes as well as special process solutions. Solvent extraction and precipitation technologies are the core of Outotec® Solution Purification Processes.
The most common method for solution purification is Outotec® Solvent Extraction Process utilizing Outotec VSF® technology, connected with Outotec® Electrowinning Process for metal recovery. Outotec VSF® technology ensures excellent electrolyte purity, which is of vital importance for high-grade metal production.
Metals can also be precipitated from the solution in Outotec OKTOP® Reactors. Outotec® Sulfide Precipitation Process can be applied to the recovery of nickel, copper, cobalt, zinc, antimony, etc.
Outotec® Neutralization Process and cementation technologies are tailored for different applications depending on the process and the neutralization and cementation agent used.
Outotec precipitation processes are equally applicable for impurity control and the recovery of valuable metals such as copper.
In the copper process, arsenic is precipitated as ferric arsenate or scorodite. Iron can be removed as hematite, goethite or jarosite, depending on the process conditions. Oxygen is fed to the iron precipitation reactors to control redox conditions and lime is typically used for adjusting the pH.
Sulfide precipitation can be used both for impurity removal and copper recovery.
Outotec® Neutralization Process is designed for the application. Outotec® Lime Milk Neutralization Process is used for effluent treatment, for example.
Outotec equipment solutions are made to optimize metallurgical results and to ensure reliable operations. Outotec's equipment is designed to be the most economical for the entire life cycle of your plant.
Outotec technology delivery consists of novel process, process design, project implementation, proprietary equipment and a process control system supported by start-up and commissioning support. We tailor our proprietary equipment according to the customer's process requirements.
We utilize our experience and expertise from numerous implementation projects in customizing our equipment to your process conditions.
The complete Outotec technology delivery ensures maximal financial return on investment.
The ability to stabilize and optimize the process and to gain an overview of production is an important aspect of automation in zinc, nickel and copper processes. Good process control ensures healthy and safe plant operation for both operators and equipment.
Outotec® Automation System ensures that the equipment performs appropriately, the consumption of additive agents and chemicals is reduced and variables such as impurity levels, process temperatures and element balances are fully controlled. These benefits are gained while also improving safety issues with respect to operation, the equipment, the environment and personnel in an easy and convenient manner.
Balances between departments involved in operations, from the roasting or direct leaching of different raw materials to casting, are difficult to see and control, mainly due to long delays. Outotec® Automation System provides a long- and short-term view of all of these processes. Advanced reports are developed for evaluating such things as process performance and energy efficiency. Proactive maintenance information is generated to protect pumps and gearboxes, for example.
For metallurgical plants in particular, close co-operation between process and automation design is vitally important for ensuring that the process is controlled as intended. In a project, the essential process knowledge of our process designers and specialists is delivered to automation, instrumentation and electrification designers for the benefit of the whole project.
Benefits of Outotec® Automation System:
Outotec Proscon® Hydro automation delivery is a process automation package designed to transfer Outotec's process expertise to our clients. The complete delivery includes a process control system, process instrumentation and process electrification with all of the required services. Thus, engineering of process control goes smoothly and a reduced number of parties ensures that specifications and schedules are met and responsibilities are clear.
Outotec deals only with modern, well-known and respected hardware and software manufacturers.
Process control is based on process information gathered by automation systems, chemical analysis and human knowledge. Fast control actions are ensured with Outotec on-line analyzers, which provide real-time information. A process analyzer is chosen for each application based on the process requirements.
Outotec® Automation System offers the chance to provide a remote diagnostics service. Through a web server located in the process control room, the process control application can be viewed remotely at Outotec’s office in the same way as plant operators view it. Remote diagnostics can be done at many different levels; it can, for example, include only process monitoring. In this case, Outotec’s experts provide suggestions for process operation adjustments and maintenance and operators at the site make the changes. Through the Remote diagnostics service, Outotec's metallurgical and automation expertise is available throughout all stages of the production life cycle.
Outotec Courier® Analyzers Outotec® ACT Intelligent Systems
Health and safety issues are essential elements of Outotec precipitation technologies. We ensure that our technologies are easy to control and have a low maintenance requirement.
Environmental awareness and protection are important features of all Outotec technologies. We make effective use of raw materials and aim to reduce water and energy consumption. We strive to provide environmentally sustainable precipitation processes with the minimal consumption of additive agents. The production of residues is minimized, and the residues that are unavoidable for the process are stable or re-usable. Consequently, environmental protection is an integrated feature of our technologies.
The operator’s safety is strictly observed from design phase forward. Safety issues with respect to operation, equipment, the environment and personnel are improved in an easy and convenient manner with the help of advanced automation.
In the equipment design phase, environmental aspects are also taken in consideration. For example, the energy efficient Outotec OKTOP® Reactor series 3000 impeller has been developed in order to cut down the mixing of energy consumption (patent pending). Another example of the environmental design principle is the new Outotec® Cooling Tower (patent pending), which it is estimated has emissions levels three times lower than a conventional cooling tower.
Emissions from the processes are estimated and minimized through equipment design and the strict estimation of required process components in order to minimize unnecessary discharges from the process. All the observed emission sources are directed to OKTOP® scrubber systems to minimize any emissions to the environment.
Hydrometallurgical technologies (pdf) Reactor technologies (pdf) Copper SX-EW technology (pdf)
For more information, please contact hydro(at)outotec.com or your nearest Outotec office