Enhancing Direct Cu Recovery through Increased Gas Processing Understanding. This project aims to investigate mechanisms of copper loss during smelting and find new ways to reduce the loss. Smelting, which produces copper matte product and slag tailings, is an important step of the copper-making process from copper sulphides. The loss of copper to slag can be as high as 12 per cent. The project aims to create new knowledge about copper loss by matte droplets floated with gas bubbles generated by ....Enhancing Direct Cu Recovery through Increased Gas Processing Understanding. This project aims to investigate mechanisms of copper loss during smelting and find new ways to reduce the loss. Smelting, which produces copper matte product and slag tailings, is an important step of the copper-making process from copper sulphides. The loss of copper to slag can be as high as 12 per cent. The project aims to create new knowledge about copper loss by matte droplets floated with gas bubbles generated by chemical reactions to the slag phase. The outcomes are intended to enable copper smelters to maximise direct copper recovery, reduce copper production costs and increase the productivity of the smelting process.Read moreRead less
Development of a novel process for recovering fluoride from spent pot-lining as AlF2(OH) using industrial waste solutions. Every year approximately 40,000 tonnes of a hazardous waste known as spent pot-lining is generated by Australia’s aluminium industry. It contains significant levels of leachable cyanide and fluoride and is currently being stored awaiting a suitable treatment technology. This project will develop a novel low-energy and low-cost process for extracting the fluoride as a usefu ....Development of a novel process for recovering fluoride from spent pot-lining as AlF2(OH) using industrial waste solutions. Every year approximately 40,000 tonnes of a hazardous waste known as spent pot-lining is generated by Australia’s aluminium industry. It contains significant levels of leachable cyanide and fluoride and is currently being stored awaiting a suitable treatment technology. This project will develop a novel low-energy and low-cost process for extracting the fluoride as a useful aluminium fluoride product that can be recycled back into the aluminium industry; destroy the cyanide; and recover other components for use in the metallurgical industry. If commercialised the benefit will be an end to the stockpiling of spent pot-lining in Australia, a more sustainable aluminium industry, and protection of the world’s natural fluoride resources.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH140100035
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,000,000.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for Computational Particle Technology. ARC Research Hub for Computational Particle Technology. This research hub aims to develop and apply advanced theories and mathematical models to design and optimise particulate and multiphase processes that are widely used in the minerals and metallurgical industries. This should be achieved through detailed analysis of the fundamentals governing fluid flow, heat and mass transfer at different time and length scales, facilitated by various ....ARC Research Hub for Computational Particle Technology. ARC Research Hub for Computational Particle Technology. This research hub aims to develop and apply advanced theories and mathematical models to design and optimise particulate and multiphase processes that are widely used in the minerals and metallurgical industries. This should be achieved through detailed analysis of the fundamentals governing fluid flow, heat and mass transfer at different time and length scales, facilitated by various novel research techniques. Research outcomes including theories, computer models and simulation techniques, as well as well-trained young researchers, should have a significant impact across a range of industries of vital importance to Australia’s economic and technological future, including the minerals, metallurgical, materials, chemical, energy, pharmaceutical and environment sectors.Read moreRead less
Improved control of dioxin emissions during iron ore sintering. This project aims to develop an innovative assessment of dioxin formation through analysis and speciation of its precursors (Cl and Cu). Iron ore sintering is the industrial process with the highest emissions of dioxins and furans to the environment in Australia, which are amongst the most toxic substances produced by man. The aim of this project is to conduct critical investigations required for control of dioxin emissions during i ....Improved control of dioxin emissions during iron ore sintering. This project aims to develop an innovative assessment of dioxin formation through analysis and speciation of its precursors (Cl and Cu). Iron ore sintering is the industrial process with the highest emissions of dioxins and furans to the environment in Australia, which are amongst the most toxic substances produced by man. The aim of this project is to conduct critical investigations required for control of dioxin emissions during iron ore sintering. The expected outcome of this project is the development of control mechanisms for the process conditions responsible for dioxin formation. This should provide significant benefits, such as assisting the Australian iron ore industry to address the environmental requirements of their international trade partners and sustain their iron ore exports.Read moreRead less
Hot stage separation of non-ferrous fraction during iron ore reduction. The project aims to provide in-situ investigation of the behaviour and properties of the non-ferrous fraction in iron ore during reduction. The results aim to allow industry to: improve the quality of the final metallic iron product; economically separate and recover high-value non-ferrous impurities in the iron ore; reduce waste generated by ironmaking; and enable utilisation of, and add value to, iron ores that currently a ....Hot stage separation of non-ferrous fraction during iron ore reduction. The project aims to provide in-situ investigation of the behaviour and properties of the non-ferrous fraction in iron ore during reduction. The results aim to allow industry to: improve the quality of the final metallic iron product; economically separate and recover high-value non-ferrous impurities in the iron ore; reduce waste generated by ironmaking; and enable utilisation of, and add value to, iron ores that currently are not commercially viable due to their high impurity levels and low iron contents. The project aims to help expand the mining potential of the currently unviable iron ore deposits and enable industry to maintain the economic benefits from iron ore production in the years to come.Read moreRead less
Atmospheric emissions of toxic trace metals and volatiles during thermal processing of iron ores. The project will investigate the contribution of iron ore to the composition, chemistry and mechanism of transformation of atmospheric volatile emissions and vapour trace elements during thermal processing with the aim to strengthen the environmental performance and efficiency of the ironmaking process.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100087
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Enabling future technology by building light element analysis capability: a light element optimised ultra-high resolution electron microprobe. The capability to characterise the chemistry of materials at very small scales is critical for geologists, metallurgists and materials scientists. The new instrument is world-leading technology that will enable analysis of light element-rich materials at extremely high resolution (< 50 nanometers) with very low detection limits.