The Department of Metallurgical Engineering has expertise in many metallurgical disciplines. These include –Mineral Processing, Extractive Metallurgy, Physical Metallurgy, and Chemical Metallurgy. The Metallurgical Engineering Degree programmes promote the development of a holistic systems approach to metallurgy where technical knowledge and skills are complimented by a sound appreciation of the life cycle processes involved in metallurgy and an awareness of the ethical, safety, environmental, economic, and social considerations involved in practicing as a professional metallurgical engineer. Our degree provides pathways into rewarding careers and our graduates have found employment in a wide range of industries and organisations.
Laboratory Facilities
Mineral Processing Pilot Plant
The pilot plant is equipped and designed to meet the needs of mining and exploration companies that wish to examine a range of processing options to further develop their deposits.
Our mineral processing laboratory is equipped with the following:
- Size reduction (Primary and Secondary Crushing) giving minus 3mm product
- Wet grinding from 3mm 60 % minus 75µm
- Floatation test cells
- Filtration and a wifley concentration table.
- Spiral classifier, driers, and other equipment
Mechanical Testing and Metallographic Services
The unit consists of metallographic specimen preparation equipment, and tensile and hardness testing machines. Microstructures of various alloys in different heat treatment conditions can also be observed. Examination and analysis of failures of metallic structures and manufactured components including elements can be undertaken.
Analytical services
Metallurgy and Mineral Processing in conjunction with the Department of Geology operates a full-time analytical laboratory with the following capabilities:
- Wet Chemical analysis and Sample Preparations for various materials.. Key analytical equipment and instruments used include;
- Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS)
- Varian Sect AA 220 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer
- Varian Sect AA 50 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer
The above instruments are mainly used for analysis and determination of the following elements;
Gold, Copper, Cobalt, Chromium, Manganese, Zinc, Lead, Berylium, Tin, Molybdenum, Iron, Cadmium,
Silver, Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium, Calcium, Aluminum, Asernic, Vanadium, Selenium, Titanium, Niobium, Tantalum, Lithium, Mercury, Boron, Tungsten, and many others.
Other analytical services provided are:
- Analysis of phosphates and nitrates in ordinary and effluent water as well as analysis of titanium in minerals using the UVS-VIS Spectrophotometer
- Water analysis for (PH, TS, TDS, TH, alkalinity, and conductivity)
- Calorimetric analysis of Nitrogen as Nitrate and Phosphorus as Phosphate
- Gravimetric analysis of Sulphur as Sulphate and Silicon as Silica
- Specific gravity tests on many materials
The services above can be used by private companies, government Institutions, students from other Universities and Colleges and the general public at large.