Separation chemistry: A step toward greener metal recycling processes
(PHYSorg.com Chemistry)

Liquid-to-liquid extraction is the basic process used in hydrometallurgy for recycling metals and decontaminating solvents (to recover molecules that can be re-used or to decontaminate them). Until now, the `recipes` used in chemical processes have been based on operating feedback and theories that are only partly understood. No physical and chemical predictive models have been available to optimize experiments, particularly in the case of using several extractants together.