XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 1273
zone. The sodium perrhenate solution is then shipped to a
secondary refiner to convert it to chemical grade ammo-
nium perrhenate.
The CIX process allows for a smaller plant than a tra-
ditional fixed-bed ion exchange plant. It also allows for a
much more concentrated eluate product solution, which
reduces shipping and refining costs. The recovery plant uses
36 resin columns with three passes of eight columns each
in loading zones, and the remaining 12 columns split across
five zones of regeneration and elution steps.
Flows are routed to the various columns depending
on which flowsheet step they require. Flows are directed
through a central rotary distribution apparatus (RDA)
which can index the entire 36 columns through the eight
process steps automatically. The RDA, automated regenera-
tion skids, and resin columns are shown in Figures 5 and 6.
The recovery plant produced sodium perrhenate from
2009 to 2014 however, operational challenges limited the
plant from achieving design production rates and online
times. Operation of the recovery plant was put on hold in
2014. In 2021, Rio Tinto partnered with the Department
of Defense’s Office of Defense Logistics Agency to deter-
mine the feasibility of restarting the recovery plant,
upgrading various components to support the process, and
developing an operating regime that supported sustainable Figure 5. Rotary distribution apparatus
Figure 6. CIX regeneration system with resin columns and rotary distribution apparatus in
background
zone. The sodium perrhenate solution is then shipped to a
secondary refiner to convert it to chemical grade ammo-
nium perrhenate.
The CIX process allows for a smaller plant than a tra-
ditional fixed-bed ion exchange plant. It also allows for a
much more concentrated eluate product solution, which
reduces shipping and refining costs. The recovery plant uses
36 resin columns with three passes of eight columns each
in loading zones, and the remaining 12 columns split across
five zones of regeneration and elution steps.
Flows are routed to the various columns depending
on which flowsheet step they require. Flows are directed
through a central rotary distribution apparatus (RDA)
which can index the entire 36 columns through the eight
process steps automatically. The RDA, automated regenera-
tion skids, and resin columns are shown in Figures 5 and 6.
The recovery plant produced sodium perrhenate from
2009 to 2014 however, operational challenges limited the
plant from achieving design production rates and online
times. Operation of the recovery plant was put on hold in
2014. In 2021, Rio Tinto partnered with the Department
of Defense’s Office of Defense Logistics Agency to deter-
mine the feasibility of restarting the recovery plant,
upgrading various components to support the process, and
developing an operating regime that supported sustainable Figure 5. Rotary distribution apparatus
Figure 6. CIX regeneration system with resin columns and rotary distribution apparatus in
background