metal refining
Extracting pure elements
Metal refining is the process of purifying crude metals to remove impurities and achieve desired chemical composition.
Raw ore is first smelted to extract metal, then refined through techniques like electrolysis, oxidation, or chemical treatment.
The goal is metal pure enough for industrial use: copper refining produces wire-grade material, gold refining removes silver and other trace metals.
- electrolysisCurrent-induced ionic separation
- zone refiningPurification via traveling melt
- blast furnaceOre-to-metal converter
- high temperatureElevated thermal measurement
- iron oreExtractable metallic mineral deposit
pig iron · furnace · leaching · crucible · steel production · carbon emissions · carbon reduction · cathode · bauxite · base metals · alloy · precious metals · jewelry making · sintering · roasting · reduction · ingot · molten
metal refiningmining
Extracting earth's resources
metal casting · quarrying · prospecting · metal fabrication · metalworking
metal refiningoxidation
Losing electrons chemically
alloying · rusting · tarnishing · corrosion · adulteration