Xiaohua Li (KU Leuven & University of Groningen), Miguel Rivera-Torrente (Shell Global Solutions), Clio Deferm (KU Leuven), Peter Tom Jones (KU Leuven), and Koen Binnemans (KU Leuven) have published a new article on sustainable copper solvent extraction in the Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy.
The study introduces Shell GTL Fluid G80, a novel synthetic aliphatic diluent produced from natural gas via the Fischer–Tropsch gas-to-liquid process, as a promising alternative to traditional petroleum-based diluents in solvent extraction (SX) of copper. Unlike conventional mineral-oil-derived fluids, G80 consists almost entirely of linear and lightly branched paraffins, with negligible aromatic content and significantly lower toxicity. The authors tested G80’s performance across multiple extractants (LIX® 984N, ACORGA® OPT5540, M5640) and copper feed concentrations, demonstrating comparable extraction efficiency, fast kinetics, excellent copper/iron selectivity, and low evaporation rates. G80 also showed lower viscosity and phase disengagement times than existing diluents, especially under high extractant loadings common in Sub-Saharan operations. Its high flashpoint (84 °C) and biodegradability offer additional safety and environmental advantages. The results position G80 as a robust, circular hydrometallurgy–aligned alternative for SX processes in copper and potentially other metals.
Reference
Li X., Rivera-Torrente M., Deferm C., Jones P.T., Binnemans K. (2025). Shell GTL Fluid G80: A New Synthetic Aliphatic Diluent for Solvent Extraction of Copper. Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40831-025-01163-7
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by Shell Global Solutions International B.V. The authors acknowledge contributions from Peter Haig, Don van Slyke, Christopher Swan, and the technical team assisting with evaporation and viscosity studies.
