SiTration has completed five weeks of prototype testing with BHP Invent and Copper South Australia, recovering high-purity gold and copper from mining waste streams.
The US materials recovery and processing company said its patented technology recovered gold at 99.99% purity from gold-bearing streams and copper at 99.9% purity from residual waste liquids.
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The testing was conducted on local copper samples and focused on the recovery of gold and copper from waste and processing streams.
SiTration said the trials demonstrated the potential of its silicon-based electrode technology to recover minerals from dilute and chemically complex streams. The technology combines silicon filtration with electro-extraction and is designed to provide selectivity and durability under harsh processing conditions.
The company said its approach could simplify processing flowsheets and reduce the use of processing chemicals and associated costs.
“Near term, we are targeting copper and gold waste streams from different BHP assets,” said Brendan Smith, co-founder and chief executive of SiTration. He added that future applications could include recovering copper from low-grade material currently classified as waste.
Smith said the trial with BHP Invent “validates how our breakthrough approach can modernise existing processing operations” and support mineral recovery from waste and processing streams.
Marley Palin, acting vice-president of BHP Innovation, said the project demonstrated how collaboration with technology developers could connect innovation with operational challenges.
“By accelerating innovation in processing technologies, we can maximise every tonne mined,” Palin said, adding that this could be achieved through reducing inputs and lowering energy and water use.
SiTration is a spin-out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is backed by BHP Ventures. The company is developing its technology for the recovery of copper, cobalt, nickel, precious metals and rare earth elements from dilute streams and waste.
BHP Invent works with technology developers on applications across orebody knowledge, mining, processing, leaching and tailings management.
