Hydromet Processing
Lifezone’s hydrometallurgical processing technology, referred to at Hydromet Technology, is a transformational method that has the potential to replace smelting for base and precious metals refining.
How Does it Work?
Hydromet eliminates the carbon intensive smelting phase from the refining process1, 2:
- Leaching metallic concentrates with liquid solvents.
- Replaces fire and smoke with water and clean air.
- Has the potential to reduce electricity consumption.
- Eliminates SO2 emissions.
- Reduces in CO2 equivalent emissions.
By adopting Hydromet Technology for processing concentrate, the environmental footprint of the Kabanga Nickel Project is expected to be minimal when compared to industry baselines1, 2
1 – Nickel Class 1 downstream processing CO2 eq. emissions baseline from 2020 Nickel Institute LCA. Estimated Kabanga refinery expected emissions from internal Company analysis.
2 – Expected reductions are lower for PGMs, as they utilize a more complicated flowsheet and are more energy intensive. For example, a study from EY Cova (an independent South African National Accreditation System accredited energy Measurement and Verification inspection body) found 46% lower emissions utilizing our Hydromet Technology compared to traditional smelting and refining (EY Cova studied PGM metals at the originally proposed 110 ktpa concentrate feed rate refinery at the Sedibelo plant site in South Africa under the then-applicable conditions in 2020 and assuming reagents not manufactured on-site; actual results could differ). Results will vary for specific PGM projects.
Hydromet Technology
Mineralization from the planned underground mining operation at Kabanga will be put through successive steps to upgrade, purify and separate value metals into refined products.
Explore the interactive graphic to learn more about the Kabanga Nickel Project’s metals recovery and refining circuits.
Underground mineralization beneficiated to produce mineral concentrate; remove tailings for storage, backfill*
*Backfill – material used to fill the cavities (i.e., stopes) created by underground mining
Concentrate leached under pressure to produce base metals Pregnant Leach Solution with Ni, Cu, Co and remove pressure leach residue for storage, backfill; sale or precious metals recovery, if present
Limestone added to produce neutralised Pregnant Leach Solution; free acid removed to form gypsum for storage, backfill, sale
*Pregnant Leach Solution
Neutralized Pregnant Leach Solution subjected to solvent extraction and electrowinning; produces LME Grade A copper metal cathode product and copper-free Pregnant Leach Solution
Copper-free Pregnant Leach Solution neutralized with limestone to remove iron as oxide product for storage, backfill, sale and produce iron-free Pregnant Leach Solution
Iron-free Pregnant Leach Solution treated to produce intermediate nickel-cobalt hydroxide concentrate; remove water and acid to recycle into process
Nickel-cobalt hydroxide re-leached; subjected to solvent extraction; electrowinning to produce LME Grade cobalt metal rounds product and cobalt-free Pregnant Leach Solution
Cobalt-free Pregnant Leach Solution subjected to solvent extraction; electrowinning to produce LME Grade nickel cathode
Underground mineralization beneficiated to produce mineral concentrate; remove tailings for storage, backfill*
*Backfill – material used to fill the cavities (i.e., stopes) created by underground mining
Concentrate leached under pressure to produce base metals Pregnant Leach Solution with Ni, Cu, Co and remove pressure leach residue for storage, backfill; sale or precious metals recovery, if present
Limestone added to produce neutralised Pregnant Leach Solution; free acid removed to form gypsum for storage, backfill, sale
*Pregnant Leach Solution
Neutralized Pregnant Leach Solution subjected to solvent extraction and electrowinning; produces LME Grade A copper metal cathode product and copper-free Pregnant Leach Solution
Copper-free Pregnant Leach Solution neutralized with limestone to remove iron as oxide product for storage, backfill, sale and produce iron-free Pregnant Leach Solution
Iron-free Pregnant Leach Solution treated to produce intermediate nickel-cobalt hydroxide concentrate; remove water and acid to recycle into process
Nickel-cobalt hydroxide re-leached; subjected to solvent extraction; electrowinning to produce LME Grade cobalt metal rounds product and cobalt-free Pregnant Leach Solution
Cobalt-free Pregnant Leach Solution subjected to solvent extraction; electrowinning to produce LME Grade nickel cathode
