NORDMIN Brokerage Event –
Project Idea Presentation
13.11.2013
Margareta Wahlström
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
13/04/2015
2
VTT- Technical Research Centre of Finland
 Largest applied research institute in Northern Europe: ca. 3000 personnel, 316 M€
turnover (2012). See: http://www.vtt.fi/?lang=en
 Waste technology and hydrometallurgical group: > 20 persons involved in works
related to mining operation
EU affairs and international collaboration:
 EIT KIC, EIP RM, Spire, CRM Innonet (substitution of critical raw materials), ERA
MIN, ERECON, international programmes
Secretariat for European standardisation work, CEN/TC 292, WG8: Waste from
extractive industry
Partner in AERTO network (Value from waste)
Active participation in national strategy plans for sustainable mining industry,
expert involvment/support to the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of
Employement and the Economy on mining issues
13/04/2015
3
Idea 1: Clean water - Mine wastewater treatment
 Background: Mine waste water contains e.g. nitrogen
(from explosives/cyanide leaching) and metals. These
constituents have environmental impacts and potential
reuse value in the process or as products.
 Idea: Novel electrochemical methods, sorption etc allow
enrichment and removal of specific metals or ions using
moderately low energies. This could allow for enhanced
treatment while recovering resources.
 Impact: Reduction of the environmental impact of mine
waste water and production of side stream products and
clean water.
Laboratory testing
 Established consortium: Water expertise cooperation with
University of Queensland, PhD candidate from VTT
 Looking for partners: On mining drainage and ww
management, reuse, and productization for internal or
external use.
93% N-removal with 100% capture
13/04/2015
4
Idea 2: Recovery of valuable metals and safe management of
mining waste in artic areas
 Background: Large amounts of metals left in tailings and
deposits, varying concentrations. Techniques for metal
recovery from low grade ores/tailings needed. Reduced
risk for acid mine drainage
 Idea: Mapping of technological solutions, safe
management and recovery of valuable metals from
tailings by integrated recovery concepts
 Impacts: Reduction of environmental impacts, reuse of
treated waste and recovery of residual metals effectively
and cost-efficiently for resale
 Looking for partners with knowledge in techniques for
metal extraction and recovery and solutions for
utilisation of residual waste
Fig. Bioleaching experiment
with tailings
13/04/2015
5
Idea 3: A product centric approach has effective impact on raw
material flows and usage
 Background: A product centric approach has effective
impact on raw material flows and usage, driven by
resource scarcity and environmental aspects. It is a
solution provider for waste minimization and material
substitution.
 Idea: In this proposal starting from multiple raw material
streams (including side streams and waste streams)
lean methods together with powder metallurgical
product concepts are combined with economical case
studies. (Piloting through powder technological routes.)
Fig 1. Agglomerated particles
for ceramics, hard metals and
composites.
Fig 2. Fused & Crushed
particles for composites.
 Impacts: Beside the reduction of waste and energy
consumption, the possibility of finding new solutions for
substitution scarce or critical raw material is possible.
 Looking for partners ex. having side or waste streams
and end-users.
Fig 3. Gas atomized particles
for metal alloys and further
consolidated into composites.
13/04/2015
6
Examples of VTT projects on mine water, hydroprocessing, mine closure
 Arsenic removal from mine waste water: laboratory validation
 Nitrogen removal methods from mine waste waters: a comprehensive study of options
 Treatment of acidic mine waters using sulphate reducing bacteria
 Water treatment, membrane technologies
 Bioprocessing of materials/wastewaters, biosorption
 Bioleaching/hydrometallurgy as a treatment technology for metal containing low grade ores,
tailings, waste (electronics)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Leaching and recovery of REEs, e.g. liquid-liquid extraction
Hydrometallurgy development, e.g. leaching of gold using alternative methods
Electronics waste, WEEE processing
Stability of residues
Sustainability and LCA
Mining closure guidelines
Measurement and control; mineral processing, water
Utilisation of mine waste
Safe management and characterisation of mine waste
13/04/2015
7
Contacts:
 Waste/water management: Margareta Wahlström,
tel. +358 40 584 7390, email: margareta.wahlstrom@vtt.fi
 Hydrometallurgical processes: Päivi Kinnunen,
tel. +358 40 178 0127, email: paivi.kinnunen@vtt.fi
 Powder metallurgy and powder technologies/a product centric
approach: Päivi Kivikytö-Reponen, tel. +358 40 483 5785, email:
paivi.kivikyto-reponen@vtt.fi
13/04/2015
VTT creates business from technology
8