Metso and UCT win first place in mining innovation competition

A collaborative team from Metso and the University of Cape Town (UCT) secured first place in the Mining Innovation and Research Battlefield competition, held in Cape Town, South Africa, from February 3 to 6. The event challenged participants to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for tailings management and zero-harm mining practices, contributing to a more responsible and circular mining economy.

The Metso-UCT team was recognized for its pioneering approach to sustainable tailings management, earning a US$25,000 research grant for their achievement. Their winning concept centered on decoupling water and tailings, allowing for distributed, mineral-specific water circuits. This approach is based on extensive research conducted at a medium-sized concentrator and applies electrochemical principles to sulfide flotation, analyzing interactions between sulfur minerals and process water.

According to PhD. Eija Saari, Senior Manager of ECO-system at Metso, the research findings suggest that separating tailings from water immediately preserves the quality of recycled water. The proposed solution enhances operational efficiency by enabling tailored water circuits for each flotation process, improving profitability while reducing environmental impact. Furthermore, this method allows for the independent treatment of tailings without disrupting the primary mineral extraction process, offering a potential shift in tailings management practices.

The Metso team included Diana Kasymova, Academic Researcher; PhD. Eija Saari, Senior Manager; and D.Sc. Kari Heiskanen, Technology Director and Professor. The UCT team comprised Lisa October, PhD. Senior Lecturer; Rešoketšwe Manenzhe, PhD. Post-Doctoral Researcher; and Kirsten Corin, PhD. Professor.

The Mining Innovation and Research Battlefield is an annual competition held as part of the Mining Indaba conference. It brings together professionals from the mining industry, academia, and non-governmental organizations to present forward-thinking solutions to sustainability challenges in mining.

Source and Photo: Metso