E-LIX™ hydrometallurgy: project flowsheet implications for copper mine teams
Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

First reported on International Mining – News
30 Second Briefing
E-LIX™, the chloride-based hydrometallurgical process developed by electrochemist Dr Eva Lain in 2014, is progressing from lab concept to commercial deployment as a standalone alternative to conventional smelting for copper and polymetallic concentrates. The process operates at atmospheric pressure and relatively low temperatures, using selective leaching and electrowinning to treat high-arsenic and complex feeds that are difficult to place in traditional smelters. For mine developers, E-LIX™ offers a potential on-site refining route that could reduce concentrate transport, simplify arsenic management and change project flowsheet assumptions.
Technical Brief
- For new mining projects, E-LIX™ is being evaluated as a base-case flowsheet option rather than a niche add-on.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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