NORDMIN Brokerage Event – Project Idea Presentation

13.11.2013

Margareta Wahlström

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

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VTT- Technical Research Centre of Finland

Largest applied research institute in Northern Europe: ca. 3000 personnel, 316 M€ turnover (2012). See: http://www.vtt.fi/?lang=en

Waste technology and hydrometallurgical group: > 20 persons involved in works related to mining operation

EU affairs and international collaboration: EIT KIC, EIP RM, Spire, CRM Innonet (substitution of critical raw materials), ERA

MIN, ERECON, international programmes Secretariat for European standardisation work, CEN/TC 292, WG8: Waste from

extractive industryPartner in AERTO network (Value from waste)Active participation in national strategy plans for sustainable mining industry,

expert involvment/support to the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Employement and the Economy on mining issues

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Idea 1: Clean water - Mine wastewater treatment

Background: Mine waste water contains e.g. nitrogen (from explosives/cyanide leaching) and metals. These constituents have environmental impacts and potential reuse value in the process or as products.

Idea: Novel electrochemical methods, sorption etc allow enrichment and removal of specific metals or ions using moderately low energies. This could allow for enhanced treatment while recovering resources.

Impact: Reduction of the environmental impact of mine waste water and production of side stream products and clean water.

Established consortium: Water expertise cooperation with University of Queensland, PhD candidate from VTT

Looking for partners: On mining drainage and ww management, reuse, and productization for internal or external use.

Laboratory testing

93% N-removal with 100% capture

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Idea 2: Recovery of valuable metals and safe management of mining waste in artic areas

Background: Large amounts of metals left in tailings and deposits, varying concentrations. Techniques for metal recovery from low grade ores/tailings needed. Reduced risk for acid mine drainage

Idea: Mapping of technological solutions, safe management and recovery of valuable metals from tailings by integrated recovery concepts

Impacts: Reduction of environmental impacts, reuse of treated waste and recovery of residual metals effectively and cost-efficiently for resale

Looking for partners with knowledge in techniques for metal extraction and recovery and solutions for utilisation of residual waste

Fig. Bioleaching experiment with tailings

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Idea 3: A product centric approach has effective impact on raw material flows and usage

Background: A product centric approach has effective impact on raw material flows and usage, driven by resource scarcity and environmental aspects. It is a solution provider for waste minimization and material substitution.

Idea: In this proposal starting from multiple raw material streams (including side streams and waste streams) lean methods together with powder metallurgical product concepts are combined with economical case studies. (Piloting through powder technological routes.)

Impacts: Beside the reduction of waste and energy consumption, the possibility of finding new solutions for substitution scarce or critical raw material is possible.

Looking for partners ex. having side or waste streams and end-users.

Fig 1. Agglomerated particles for ceramics, hard metals and composites.

Fig 2. Fused & Crushedparticles for composites.

Fig 3. Gas atomized particles for metal alloys and further consolidated into composites.

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Examples of VTT projects on mine water, hydroprocessing, mine closure

Arsenic removal from mine waste water: laboratory validation

Nitrogen removal methods from mine waste waters: a comprehensive study of options

Treatment of acidic mine waters using sulphate reducing bacteria

Water treatment, membrane technologies

Bioprocessing of materials/wastewaters, biosorption

Bioleaching/hydrometallurgy as a treatment technology for metal containing low grade ores, tailings, waste (electronics)

• Leaching and recovery of REEs, e.g. liquid-liquid extraction• Hydrometallurgy development, e.g. leaching of gold using alternative methods • Electronics waste, WEEE processing• Stability of residues • Sustainability and LCA • Mining closure guidelines• Measurement and control; mineral processing, water• Utilisation of mine waste • Safe management and characterisation of mine waste

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Contacts:

Waste/water management: Margareta Wahlström, tel. +358 40 584 7390, email: margareta.wahlstrom@vtt.fi

Hydrometallurgical processes: Päivi Kinnunen, tel. +358 40 178 0127, email: paivi.kinnunen@vtt.fi

Powder metallurgy and powder technologies/a product centric approach: Päivi Kivikytö-Reponen, tel. +358 40 483 5785, email: paivi.kivikyto-reponen@vtt.fi

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