Abstract

Hydrometallurgy is a branch of metallurgical engineering that focuses on the extraction and recovery of metals from their ores through aqueous chemistry. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of hydrometallurgy, detailing its principles, major processes, and applications. The discussion covers the fundamental concepts, including leaching, solution concentration and purification, and metal recovery. Additionally, the paper explores the environmental and economic impacts of hydrometallurgical processes and examines recent advancements and future trends in the field.