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Technology
Key Features and History
The
key features of the DeMetal Process are as follows:-
 | Staged
leaching process utilising dilute acid to extract metals from
most starting substances
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| Recovery
levels exceeding 95%
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| Low
capital costs compared to competing technologies where they
exist
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| Low
operational costs compared to competing technologies where they
exist
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| Low
environmental impact compared to competing technologies where
they exist
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| Scaleable
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| Patented
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| Multiple
potential commercial applications |
The
8 major development milestones are as follows:-
- Evolved
from work on the purification of low grade ores in Germany in
WW2.
- After
the death of one of the original collaborators, work transferred
to the United Kingdom and focused on the processing of
refractory gold ores
- The
use of dilute nitric acid under turbulent conditions and the
addition of brine was found to make significant improvements to
process efficiency
- The
development of a reactor comprised of low cost materials which
also allowed for high levels of nitric acid recycling
(90%)resulted in the reduction of operating costs
- Larger scale trials successfully conducted at
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia leading to the adoption of
activated carbon to recover the gold from leach liquor achieving
recovery rates of up to 98%
- Discovery that by varying the PH, it was
possible to achieve differential separation of metals and other
contaminants
- Development of the patented Hydrocoil Reactor
and subsequent refinements
- Full scale operational plant
The
Hydrocoil - The Innovative Heart of the DeMetal Process
Laboratory
established
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