Published: February 8, 2022 |

[Click image to enlarge]

Temas Resources has released its break-through patented and licensed hydrometallurgical process developed in conjunction with its technology partners, ORF Technologies and Process Research ORTECH, to produce high value, market-ready titanium dioxide (TiO2) mineral products from hardrock and mineral sands sources for pigment manufacturing.

The proprietary ORF process is environmentally friendly. It utilizes low-cost, recyclable reagents, has low energy requirements because the process is carried out at ambient temperatures and pressures, and it produces no toxic waste. This is a paradigm shift for the $15 billion TiO2 industry that currently uses chloride and sulfate processing technologies which are toxic and affect the environmental negatively.

Another advantage of the ORF process is its ability to process lower cost, more abundant ilmenite ores (often considered waste rock) as the preferred feedstock over the less abundant, high-cost rutile/anatase minerals required by other processes. Also, there is potential additional commercial value in the recovery of vanadium, chromium, magnesium, nickel, copper, and cobalt as by-products from the ilmenite feed that are considered disposable or impurities using other processes.

“Temas is ready to partner with others in the mining and chemicals industries to make mining and mineral processing compatible with the global transition to low energy consumption, small carbon footprint, and ESG-compliance by bringing hydrometallurgical processes like this to the mining industry,” said Temas President and CEO, Michael Dehn.

“We have multiple hydrometallurgical technologies available that enable the sustainable recovery of a spectrum of minerals and metals in commercial applications, all addressing the climate-change issues facing today’s world,” said Robert Schafer, executive chairman of Temas Resources.

ORF TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW

Process Comparisons: The ORF process can use almost any ilmenite feedstock no matter the iron content or chromium, vanadium impurities, therefore the feedstock source is flexible and attractive at current pricing of about $250/t. The TiO2 feedstock needed for the alternative processes range in price to more than $2000/t.

Product Specifications: All three processes produce a commercial product that is a high purity TiO2 powder (rutile or anatase). The Temas sustainable ORF process achieves commercial specifications in its products at lower cost with less environmental impact.

Environmental Comparisons: The ORF process is more environmentally friendly than the other commercial processes. It operates at lower temperatures and atmospheric pressures, and therefore the energy requirements are lower. In addition, the reagents required by ORF are recovered, re-generated and recycled for indefinite re-use.

In operations, the chloride process requires the management of toxic chlorine gas and high temperature acids. Similarly, the sulfate process requires handling of sulfuric acid at high temperatures. The ORF process uses a mix of chloride-based compounds at low temperatures, thus a safer work environment. The chloride and sulfate processes produce an iron-rich chloride or sulfate waste sludge and remnant acids that require special disposal sites. The ORF process produces a high-quality iron oxide product meeting specifications allowing it to be sold into the steel making process. In addition, any chromium or vanadium, if present in the feedstock, may be recovered as oxide precipitates and processed further at low cost into commercial products.

Cost Comparisons: Because of the overall simplicity of the hydrometallurgical process flowsheet, the capital cost to construct a ORF facility is significantly lower than the chloride and sulfate process facility requirements. Also, operating at low temperatures and pressures minimizes risk during operations, removing the cost to construct specialty handling or safety facilities at a ORF plant. The estimated capital cost to build an ORF plant is estimated to be significantly lower than the cost to build a chloride process facility or a sulfate process plant of similar capacity.

On the operating cost side, the ORF process has much lower energy requirements than the alternatives, resulting in cost savings as well as a smaller overall environmental impact. Because the reagents can be recovered, re-generated and used again, these component costs are also minimized in the ORF process and waste disposal costs are minimized.

Commercialization: Temas plans to utilize the ORF hydrometallurgical recovery technology as it carries out the metallurgical test work for if its Lac La Blanche TiO2 project and expects to complete testing with the technology on its Lac Brule TiO2 project as well. Both projects are in Quebec. These deposits and others in the region are igneous layered mafic intrusion styles of mineral deposits that typically have layers that concentrate titanium, iron, vanadium, chromium, and occasionally phosphorous. The mineralogy from these properties is very amenable to the ORF process. With the simple process flowsheet during which ore is milled, then leached in vessels designed for the widely-used solvent extraction process, the commercial products are recovered as high purity oxides or metals, with minimal waste. On completion, the leach reagents are captured, regenerated and recycled to be used in a continuous or circular process at the operation.

Intellectual Property: The ORF hydrometallurgical leach and solvent extraction processes are patented and licensed. This technology may be applied to many different ore types. Temas is making this technology available to current producers and marketing to future clients. As the mining industry everywhere moves toward more earth-friendly processes to deliver industrial and commercial products, Temas Resources is at the forefront of developing and implementing technologies that are sustainable, low-cost, and environmentally friendly.

About Temas Resources
Temas Resources is focused on the advancement of mineral independence and the processes in which minerals are extracted. The company’s goal is to reduce the environmental impact and carbon footprint of metal extraction by focusing on the uses of processing and leaching technologies. Temas Resources flagship properties are located in the stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction of Quebec (Canada) bordering Vermont, Maine, and New York State in an area known as the Grenville Geological Province. The Grenville Geological Province is home to Lac Tio, the largest solid ilmenite deposit in the world.

To stop by Temas’ website, CLICK HERE

Be in-the-know when you’re on-the-go!

CLICK HERE to register your email address.

Copyright © 2022 Mining Connection LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.

For licensing permission, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)