Metal solvent extraction
Mining industries are under pressure to increase production of critical metals and minerals to meet growing demand to support electric vehicle batteries, global electrification and the broader energy transition. Forecasts show large relative increases in demand of up to nearly 500% for certain minerals such as Lithium, Copper, Nickel and Cobalt1.
Electric Vehicle (EV) forecasts project that at least 150 million EV are expected to be on the road by 20302. Considering that a typical EV battery contains considerable amounts of Lithium, Nickel, and Cobalt, the mining sector is expected to invest heavily in the next decades to increase supply of these important materials.
ExxonMobil has decades of expertise in supplying diluents for the solvent extraction (SX) of minerals including copper, nickel, cobalt, uranium and zinc.
The Escaid™ fluids portfolio features product grades with low viscosities, high flash points and low evaporation rates specifically designed for solvent extraction operations. This versatility offers the right balance of good flow and phase separation with minimal diluent losses, and reduced fire risk. Escaid diluents with low aromatic content and high flash points pose low risk to worker safety, are readily biodegradable and not expected to cause toxic effects in the environment.
Key potential benefits of using Escaid™ diluents in SX
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Fast separation phase
- Reduced extractant losses
- Low formation of crud
- Consistent quality
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Low cost to refill
- Limited evaporation rate
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Mitigated risk of disruption in the extraction process
- Limited properties’ variation
- Process stability
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Safe operations and comfortable working environment
- Mitigated fire risk
- Low risk for worker exposure worker
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Reliable regional supply
- Global network of world-scale integrated plants
- Robust regional supply networks.
Featured resources
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Lithium-ion battery recycling
Escaid™ can support raw material suppliers, EV battery manufacturers and recyclers in their efforts to produce, recover and recycle lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese via solvent extraction processes.
Fact sheet - Have a technical question? Ask the AnswerPerson
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High-performance diluents for metal extraction
Escaid™ diluents are used in metal extraction. They provide higher flash point, lower vapor pressure and much lower aromatic content to the mining industry compared to traditional kerosene extraction diluents. Main metals extracted include copper, nickel and uranium. Escaid diluents are available in Escaid™ 110, Escaid™ 115 and Escaid™ 120.
