Cementation (metallurgy)

Type of precipitation

Not to be confused with cementation process or carburizing.

Cementation is a method for obtaining metals from solutions of the metal ion. It is a type of precipitation, in which ions are reduced to zero valence at a solid metallic interface. A cementation step often follows leaching.[1]

Cementation of copper is a common example. Copper ions in solution, often from an ore leaching process, convert to metallic copper in the presence of solid iron. The iron oxidizes, and the copper ions are reduced through the electron transfers. The reaction is spontaneous because copper is higher on the galvanic series than iron.

Cu2+(aq) + Fe(s) → Cu(s) + Fe2+(aq)

Cementation was a historically useful process for the production of copper, where the precipitated solid copper metal was recovered as flakes or powder on the surface of scrap iron.[2]

Cementation is used industrially to recover a variety of heavy metals including cadmium,[3] and the cementation of gold by zinc in the Merrill–Crowe process accounts for a substantial fraction of world gold production.[4]

## See also

[edit]

* Engineering portal

* Bessemer process
* Methods of crucible steel production
* Open-hearth furnace process

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Krüger, Joachim; Reisener, Jan; Reuter, Markus; Richter, Klaus (2000). "Metallurgy". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a16_375. ISBN 978-3-527-30385-4.
2. ^ "A study on the optimum conditions of the cementation of copper in chlorination solution of chalcopyrite concentrate by iron scraps," by Hakan Temure, Ahmet YARTAŞI and M. Muhtar KOCAKERIM. BAÜ Fen Bil. Enst. Dergisi (2006) 8.2 [1]
3. ^ Younesi, S.R.; Alimadadi, H.; Alamdari, E. Keshavarz; Marashi, S.P.H. (2006). "Kinetic mechanisms of cementation of cadmium ions by zinc powder from sulphate solutions". Hydrometallurgy. 84 (3–4): 155–164\. Bibcode:2006HydMe..84..155Y. doi:10.1016/j.hydromet.2006.05.005.3–4&rft.pages=155-164&rft.date=2006&rft_id=info:doi/10.1016/j.hydromet.2006.05.005&rft_id=info:bibcode/2006HydMe..84..155Y&rft.aulast=Younesi&rft.aufirst=S.R.&rft.au=Alimadadi,+H.&rft.au=Alamdari,+E.+Keshavarz&rft.au=Marashi,+S.P.H.&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Cementation+(metallurgy)" class="Z3988">
4. ^ "Zinc cementation," R. Walton, Developments in Mineral Processing, volume 15, 2005, pages 589–601 [2]