BATEMAN and MINTEK form ion-exchange
alliance
BATEMAN and MINTEK have entered into a co-operation and joint development
agreement in the field of ion exchange for metallurgical applications.
The alliance combines BATEMAN's specialised technology
and experience in process and engineering design, construction and
project management with MINTEK's expertise in the research and development
of ion-exchange materials and processes.
Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly
develop, market, and implement ion-exchange technologies. The package
of services offered includes the initial testwork to determine whether
separation is possible at the required recovery and purity; bench-scale
testwork to evaluate feasibility and develop the initial design criteria;
and pilot-plant testwork to optimise the process and confirm design
criteria. Economic evaluation and feasibility studies will also be
offered, as will project management, construction and commissioning.
If required, a build-own-operate and build-own-operate-and-transfer
service will also be provided.
The technologies available include the 'traditional'
fixed-bed and fluidised-bed (NIMCIX) processes, as well as the novel
resin-in-pulp (RIP) or resin-in-leach (RIL) technology.
Ion exchange is a hydrometallurgical process for
recovering, upgrading, separating and purifying metals and minerals
using resins to transfer the target species from one solution to another
via a solid substrate. Resins are functionalised synthetic polymers
that have the ability to exchange ions with those present in an aqueous
solution. With this process, dilute solutions can be treated effectively,
and the metal of interest can be removed or recovered selectively
while rejecting others. Ion exchange also has the potential to treat
poorly clarified liquors and pulps, thus avoiding the need for costly
solid / liquid separations.
As an example, RIP technology can be used to clean
up effluent (solution or slurry) streams and produce an environmentally
friendlier effluent, whilst at the same time recovering trace elements
of valuable metals. This application will be a particular focus of
the BATEMAN-MINTEK team as RIP allows elimination of the costly solid-liquid
separation step required by competing technologies.
Typical applications include the removal of various
impurities from base-metal refineries; copper, cobalt, nickel and
zinc removal from slurries using RIP; and removal of copper, cobalt
and nickel during zinc purification and copper refining.
For further information contact Bert van Hege, Bateman
Metals, on +27-11-899-3673, or e-mail basemetals@batemanengineering.com.
