lixiviation

The chemist performs lixiviation to extract the soluble salts.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Chemical process: "lixiviation" refers to the process of separating a soluble substance from a solid by washing or percolating a liquid through it, typically water. This is a technical term used in chemistry and industrial processing.

Usage Examples

• (The process of washing the ore to dissolve gold.)
• (The removal of soluble compounds from soil.)

Advanced Usage

• "lixiviation process": a specific method of chemical separation.

  • The lixiviation process is critical in hydrometallurgy for recovering metals. (The washing method is essential for metal extraction.)

• "lixiviation residue": the solid material left after the soluble part has been removed.

  • The lixiviation residue was analysed for remaining minerals. (The leftover solid was tested.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lixiviate (verb): to subject to lixiviation; to wash or leach.

  • The chemist lixiviated the crushed ore to extract the salt. (The chemist performed the washing process.)

• Lixiviant (noun): a liquid used for lixiviation, such as a solvent or leaching agent.

  • Water is a common lixiviant for soluble salts. (Water is a typical liquid used in the process.)

Synonyms

• Leaching: the process of extracting a substance from a solid by dissolving it in a liquid.
• Percolation: the slow passage of a liquid through a porous substance.
• Elution: the removal of an adsorbed substance from a solid by washing with a solvent.

Related Idioms

• None common; "lixiviation" is a highly technical term and does not appear in everyday idioms.