What Does leaching Mean
The first thing we are going to do before getting fully into the meaning of the term leaching is to discover its etymological origin. In this case, we can establish that it derives from Latin. Exactly we can establish that it is the result of the sum of two well-differentiated lexical components of said language:
-The noun “lixivia”, which can be translated as “bleach”.
-The suffix “-cion”, which is used to indicate “action and effect”.
The idea of leaching is used in the field of chemistry . This is the name of the act and the result of leaching : dividing the soluble and insoluble parts of a substance by using a solvent .
Leaching is also known as solid-liquid extraction , since it consists of the use of a liquid solvent with a pulverized solid, an action that allows the dissolution of the soluble elements of the solid.
Through leaching, in short, it is possible to extract solutes from a solid thanks to the use of a liquid solvent . When the phases are contacted, the solutes diffuse into the liquid, achieving the separation.
Leaching is a process that takes place in different contexts. Through it, sugar , colorants or oils can be obtained , for example.
In the field of metallurgy , leaching makes it possible to extract useful species from a mineral, using reagents that are responsible for their dissolution. The copper , the silver and gold are metals commonly removed by leaching, which can be carried out in different ways (by stirring, in batteries in landfills, etc.).
In the field of mining we have to establish that different types of leaching can be carried out. Thus, for example, among the most significant are the following:
-Heap leaching. This is carried out, above all, to be able to recover what are the values of the so-called 'low grade' minerals. Likewise, we can highlight that, at present, for example, it is used in more than one hundred mines in the world and, specifically, on silver and gold ores. It is no less interesting to know that this procedure has its origin five centuries ago and was discussed for the first time in the work "De Re Metallica" (1557) by Georgius Agricola.
-Lixiviation of landfills. Specifically, this other modality is being undertaken in what are sulfurous copper ore dumps. Thus, these are wetted with water or with sulfuric acid to proceed to leach what are the copper salts.
Likewise, there are also two other well-known modalities: in situ leaching and so-called pressure leaching.
The concept of leaching is used in ecology to refer to the slide of pollutants and waste into the seas and rivers. The water is responsible for dragging these substances that can cause significant damage to the environment.
Similarly, geology uses the notion of leaching to name the washing of a geological layer or a stratum by means of water .