Professor Tomasz Chmielewski, Ph.D., D.Sc. (1950–2024)

Chmielewski's research focused on the electrochemistry of metal sulphides, a foundation for mineral flotation and metal leaching.Much of his work dealt with minerals from the Legnica-Gogw Copper Belt (LGOM), and his research directly influenced technological advancements in minerals and metals extraction.Professor Chmielewski was deeply passionate about advancing hydrometallurgy, particularly for the non-ferrous and precious metals crucial to the Polish copper industry.He demonstrated that hydrometallurgical techniques could complement the energy-intensive pyrometallurgical methods used in Polish copper production.His research contributed to the search for sustainable methods of processing copper-bearing shale, a key component of LGOM deposits, through the BIOSHALE project, an international initiative funded by the European Union.One of his significant achievements was developing a hybrid flotation-hydrometallurgical method for processing copper ore, in collaboration with Professor Andrzej uszczkiewicz.This method, which involved chemically modifying shale products with sulfuric acid within the flotation system, greatly improved the efficiency of copper ore enrichment and reduced metal losses.This innovative approach was implemented at the Polkowice Copper Mine, substantially increasing copper yields.Additionally, it provided an industrial solution for utilizing sulfuric acid produced during copper smelting.In recent years, Professor Chmielewski led the HYDRO project under the