Improving metallurgical performance with chemical technology through the development, manufacture and seamless application of reagents

Dr Stephen Foster

A GLOBAL LEADER IN MINING CHEMICALS

GLOBAL FOOTPRINT

WORLD’S LARGEST MINING CHEMICALS MANUFACTURING FACILITY

SASOLBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

• ISO9001• ISO14001• NOSA5STAR• RESPONSIBLECARE

ACCREDITATIONS

MINING

COMMINUTION & LIBERATION

BENEFICIATION

METAL RECOvERY / SMELTING

THE FOUR PLATFORMS OF ExTRACTION TECHNOLOGY

CONvENTIONAL MININGGEOLOGY

AND GRADE

SHAPE OF MUD PILE

(FINE/LUMPY)

SIzE DIS-TRIBUTION FOR

CRUSHER

CONvENTIONAL MINING

BLASTING CONTROL TO

OPTIMISE ENERGY

AvAILABILITY OF SERvICES AND

RESOURCES

SURFACE AND UNDER-

GROUND

OPTIMAL BLAST CONDITIONS TO GUARANTEE A MEASURED RESULT

CRUSHED AND MILLED OREINPUT POWER

COST AND AvAILABILITY

LOW ENERGY FOOTPRINT

MILLING MEDIA

COMMINUTION/ LIBERATION

HARDNESS/ BRITTLENESS

OF ORE

MANY DESIGNS TO CHOOSE

FROM

USE OF GRINDING

AIDS

OPTIMISED SIzE FRACTION FOR BENEFICIATION

THE BENEFICIATION PLATFORM

METAL GRADE AND RECOvERY

GRADE (IN AND OUT): LOW

GRADE-HIGH GRADE

MAkE-UP, APPICATION,

DOSE CONTROL AND qUALITY OF

REAGENTS

WATER RECOvERY

AND SLIMES DISPOSAL

BENEFICIATION

METAL OR PRODUCT RECOvERY

MIxED AND COMPLEx ORE MINERALOGY

REAGENT SELECTION

(SUITE)

SUPPLY A qUALITY PRODUCT TO THE MARkET

METALS OR FINAL PRODUCTSMELTING CAPACITY

SAFETY ACROSS

THE ENTIRE PROCESS

ENvIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY, EFFLUENT, WATER

USAGE AND LICENCE ISSUES

FINAL PRODUCT TO MARkET

PRODUCED WITH LOWEST COST

AvAILABLE

POWER AND REFINERY

COSTSPURITY (qUALITY)

INvOLvEMENT IN MINERALS PROCESSING

Mining Crushing

Grinding

Thickening Smelter

Electrolysis

Precipitation

Agglomeration andBriquetting

Tailings Thickening

Disposal

Electrode Ingot

CCD Wash Train

Flotation Concentrate

Heap or vat Leach

Solvent Extraction

• Oreisnothomogeneous• Maycontainmoreorlesswasterockandgangue• Affectsbeneficiationprocess• Highproportionsofsilica,sulphidesandoxidesaffect flotationprocess• Impactgradeandrecovery• Dosageandtypeofreagent• Liberationduringgrinding• Thickeningandwaterrecovery

NOT ALL BLASTS ARE THE SAME

AREAS OF ExPERTISE

• Aluminum• Coal• Cobalt• Copper• Diamonds• GoldandSilver• Iron

• Nickel• PlatinumGroupMetals• Phosphate• Titanium• Uranium• Zircon

REAGENT SUITE

A range of solid and liquid metal sulphide collectors

xANTHATES (collectors)

REAGENT SUITE

A range of formulated collectors

SENKOL (collectors)

REAGENT SUITE

A range of water-soluble and insoluble frothers

SENFROTH (frothers)

REAGENT SUITE

A range of water-soluble products, such as carboxymethyl cellulose,

guar gum and other natural polymers for gangue depression

SENDEP (depressants)

REAGENT SUITE

A range of polyelectrolyte flocculants and coagulants for

improved solids thickening, water recovery, clarity and

rheology modification

SENFLOC (flocculants)

• Bench scale/metallurgical evaluations• Statistical evaluation and data validation• Product development and optimisation• On-site product management• Site-specific account management• Supply chain control (e.g. telemetry and bulk distribution)• Plant safety audits FIT-FOR-PURPOSE SERVICES

• Ownership of the reagents area • Agreed monthly KPI’s• Quality control on incoming reagents• Reagent mixing to the right

concentration• Availability of plant and reagents and

reporting of engineering faults• Ordering and stock reconciliation

• Dosing Optimisation• Overall plant performance

measurement (grade, recovery reporting and reagent usage)• Safety management• Audits• Improvement initiatives

FULL SERVICE MODEL

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

• Research and Development Centre• AMIRA International

• South African Minerals to Metals Research Institute (SAMMRI) • University of Cape Town

AFRICAN TECHNOLOGY WITH A GLOBAL FOOTPRINT