The mining industry is facing emerging challenges as a result of the increase in energy consumption and environmental demands. These facts have promoted the use of renewable energy sources, such as wind, geothermal and, mainly, solar energy. This paper discusses the role of solar energy (UV-VIS-NIR) in leaching processes, evaluating its potential application in metal extraction from sulfide minerals, based on photochemical mechanisms that promote the regeneration of ferric iron or the so called ferrous iron cycling. The present paper discusses the possibility that ultraviolet, visible light and near infrared irradiation (e.g., sunlight provided) can assist the leaching processes in two main ways: by the oxidation of sulfide minerals through in-situ generated Fenton-like reactions, and by the photochemical activation of semiconductor minerals that contain transition metals (Fe, Cu, and Cr, among others). Thus, this paper provides theoretical support to move towards the future application of photoleaching, which consist of a leaching process assisted by UV, VIS, and NIR irradiation. This technology can be considered a promising mineral processing route, using direct photochemical solar energy that can reduce the energy consumption (electricity, fuels) and the environmental impact, opening an opportunity for an alternative method of metal extraction from sulfide ores.

中文翻译：

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太阳能 (UV-VIS-NIR) 作为硫化物矿物浸出辅助剂的作用及其在金属提取中的潜在应用

由于能源消耗和环境需求的增加，采矿业正面临新的挑战。这些事实促进了可再生能源的使用，例如风能、地热能，主要是太阳能。本文基于促进三价铁再生或所谓的二价铁循环的光化学机制，讨论了太阳能 (UV-VIS-NIR) 在浸出过程中的作用，评估了其在从硫化物矿物中提取金属的潜在应用。本论文讨论了紫外线、可见光和近红外辐射（例如提供的阳光）可以通过两种主要方式辅助浸出过程的可能性：通过原位生成的类芬顿反应氧化硫化物矿物，以及通过含有过渡金属（Fe、Cu 和 Cr 等）的半导体矿物的光化学活化。因此，本文为未来光浸出的应用提供了理论支持，该应用由紫外、可见光和近红外照射辅助的浸出过程组成。该技术可以被认为是一种很有前途的选矿路线，使用直接光化学太阳能可以减少能源消耗（电力、燃料）和环境影响，为从硫化矿中提取金属的替代方法开辟了机会。