Exploring variability in mineral electrochemistry using chalcopyrite as an example
department or school: Applied Science, Faculty of
department or school: Materials Engineering, Department of
data provider: DSpace
degree campus: UBCV
creator: Heise, Connor William Anthony
issued: 2025-10-16T18:29:46Z
issued: 2025
related degree: Master of Applied Science - MASc
degree grantor: University of British Columbia
description: Existing literature has failed to provide a substantive explanation for the variability in mineral electrochemistry or methods for its mitigation. The majority of research data has limited use beyond the mineral sampled for experimentation. Even if it did, the conclusions may not translate to different methods or mineral origins. The data itself is not to blame for this challenge, but rather the reporting on how this data was collected. The experimental methods and descriptions of materials are not consistently or appropriately reported. This work sought to understand how different mineral electrodes can affect electrochemical results. Three distinct chalcopyrite origins were used in open circuit potential (OCP), galvanostatic, and potentiostatic experiments. I observed the effects of crevice corrosion, mineral origin and composition, sample preparation, solution stirring, and experimental method. Masking the interface between the resin and mineral surface of the electrodes resulted in upwards of 100 mV potential difference under galvanostatic conditions. As expected, the origin and composition of a mineral affect observed data. Different mineral origins can result in upwards of 242 mV potential difference under 1 μA galvanostatic conditions in stagnant 2 g/L HâSOâ at 21°C. Additionally, variation within the same origin can result in approximately 247 mV difference. The effects of electrolyte solution stirring were considerable as well. For example, OCP and galvanostatic potentials can change on the order of 45 mV when stirring and/or nitrogen bubbling. The enclosed data led to the proposal of methods for reducing variability in mineral electrochemistry and structuring reporting guidelines. Mineral electrochemists need to agree on a standard for experimental preparation and reporting to ensure future research can make use of historical data and build upon it.
aggregated CHO: https://circle.library.ubc.ca/rest/handle/2429/92638
note: EXPLORING VARIABILITY IN MINERAL ELECTROCHEMISTRY USING CHALCOPYRITE AS AN EXAMPLE by Connor William Anthony Heise B.A.Sc, The University of British Columbia, 2019 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF APPLIED SCIENCE in The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (Materials Engineering) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) October 2025 © Connor William Anthony Heise, 2025 ii The following individuals certify that they have read, and recommend to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for acceptance, the thesis entitled: Exploring Variability In Mineral Electrochemistry Using Chalcopyrite As An Example submitted by Connor William Anthony Heise in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science in Materials Engineering Examining Committee: Edouard Asselin, Professor, Materials Engineering, UBC Supervisor David Dixon, Professor, Materials Engineering, UBC Supervisory Committee Member Wenying Liu, Associate Professor, Materials Engineering, UBC Supervisory Committee Member iii Abstract Existing literature has failed to provide a substantive explanation for the variability in mineral electrochemistry or methods for its mitigation. The majority of research data has limited use beyond the mineral sampled for experimentation. Even if it did, the conclusions may not translate to different methods or mineral origins. The data itself is not to blame for this challenge, but rather the reporting on how this data was collected. The experimental methods and descriptions of materials are not consistently or appropriately reported. This work sought to understand how different mineral electrodes can affect electrochemical results. Three distinct chalcopyrite origins were used in open circuit potential (OCP), galvanostatic, and potentiostatic experiments. I observed the effects of crevice corrosion, mineral origin and composition, sample preparation, solution stirring, and…
has type: Thesis/Dissertation
date issued: 2025-11
is shown at: 10.14288/1.0450468
language: eng
degree discipline: Materials Engineering
provider: Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
publisher: University of British Columbia
rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
rights URI: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
scholar level: Graduate
contributor: Asselin, Edouard
type: Text
identifier URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/92638