Australia’s first mini pilot plant for minerals processing
by Geraldine Hinter
Research in Australia’s minerals processing industry is set to take
on a new level of sophistication with a unique state-of-the-art mini
pilot plant being established at UniSA’s Ian Wark Research Institute.
A joint initiative led by The Wark™, the $1 million plant is being funded by the University, industry and the Premier’s Science and Research Fund.
The mini pilot plant will provide an exceptional research tool for the minerals processing industry, as well as a broad range of other industry sectors including energy, soil remediation, plastics recycling and food and pharmaceutical processing, according to Professor John Ralston, Director of The Wark™.
“It will enable researchers to more efficiently test and evaluate new separation processes on a wide range of mineral ore types at significantly lower cost than a full-scale pilot plant, with less energy use and with very small sample sizes. Due to its extremely small scale, the plant will allow a degree of control and flexibility that is impossible to achieve with conventional pilot plants,” Prof Ralston said.
The concentration of minerals by flotation is a key technology in minerals processing and The Wark™ is a recognised world leader in this field.
The pilot plant will have the potential to not only monitor but closely control the chemical and physical conditions in flotation to effect optimal separations on a continuous basis. Mining companies will be able to assess potential processing options at the pre-feasibility stage of mine site developments, minimising the risks of expensive metallurgical errors and wasted energy as mines develop, as well as minimising environmental impacts.
It will place South Australia at the forefront of flotation research nationally, increasing the likelihood of breakthrough technology in the mineral processing industry.
“We will have the opportunity to play a leading role in the growth of value added and export orientated processing of minerals utilising world-best facilities, equipment and people within Australia,” Prof Ralston said.
Industry partners in the project are Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and WMC Resources, with support from the SA Chamber of Mines and Energy.