1636 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
materials. These solutions can then be used to precipitate
carbon-rich minerals, including carbonate, for long-term
carbon storage.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Bio-solubilization
Allonnia’s bio-solvents can effectively and selectively solu-
bilize carbonate, hydroxide, and silicate materials resulting
in the removal of gangue components such as Al, Ca, Mg,
and SiO2, while minimizing the loss of the mineralogical
phases with value metals such as lithium (Li), copper (Cu),
nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe). We report a subset of our results
with an ore material, with a concentrate and with silicate-
rich tailings here.
Ore Material
The target elements for solubilization from this material
were alumina (Al2O3) and SiO2, which were present in
multiple phases including kaolinite and quartz, as deter-
mined by XRD. Testing was conducted on four samples
with moderately different grades and compositions from
similar ore bodies. One strong performing bio-solvent
(Biosolvent 1A) was able to achieve on average the removal
of 26% of total Al2O3and 24% of total SiO2 and 8% of the
penalty element (as measured by XRF) of the pulverized
ore under semi-optimized conditions. Solubilization was
rapid, requiring only two hours of contact time to achieve
maximum removal (Figure 1). This was a single contact test
and additional solubilization is likely with additional con-
tacts. Further, upon the removal of the alumina and silica,
the target metal increased by 2% over the same time.
In addition, we can refine the bio-solvent composition
and the operational parameters to fine-tune the solubiliza-
tion of the gangue while retaining the value metal. One
of the clearest examples of the “tunability” of the bio-sol-
vents is the ability to adjust the ratio of metabolites to tar-
get a penalty element. Figure 2 demonstrates how a subtle
change in the composition of a single bio-solvent resulted
in similar performance for alumina and silica removal and
upgraded the value metal, whereas one version (Bio-solvent
1A) resulted in significantly improved removal of a penalty
element. Similar optimization has also been observed with
temperature controls and with the amount of solid loading
to the bio-solvents. This work is on-going.
Ore Concentrate
The target mineral for solubilization from the concentrate
was MgO, which was present in multiple phases including
serpentine and talc, as determined by XRD. Single contact
testing was conducted on one grab sample. One strong-
performing bio-solvent (Bio-solvent 2) was able to achieve
the removal of approximately 25% of total MgO, while the
losses of cobalt (Co) and nickel were less than 5% under
non-optimized conditions (as measured by XRF, Figure 3).
Figure 1. Gangue Removal from Ore using Bio-solvent 1A. Beneficiation of 4 ore materials
showed significant removal of SiO
2 ,Al
2 O
3 ,and the penalty element, in addition to an increase
in the value metal after just 2 hours of treatment and with only a single contact. Error bars are
based on the measurement of 12 samples (3 of each ore type)
materials. These solutions can then be used to precipitate
carbon-rich minerals, including carbonate, for long-term
carbon storage.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Bio-solubilization
Allonnia’s bio-solvents can effectively and selectively solu-
bilize carbonate, hydroxide, and silicate materials resulting
in the removal of gangue components such as Al, Ca, Mg,
and SiO2, while minimizing the loss of the mineralogical
phases with value metals such as lithium (Li), copper (Cu),
nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe). We report a subset of our results
with an ore material, with a concentrate and with silicate-
rich tailings here.
Ore Material
The target elements for solubilization from this material
were alumina (Al2O3) and SiO2, which were present in
multiple phases including kaolinite and quartz, as deter-
mined by XRD. Testing was conducted on four samples
with moderately different grades and compositions from
similar ore bodies. One strong performing bio-solvent
(Biosolvent 1A) was able to achieve on average the removal
of 26% of total Al2O3and 24% of total SiO2 and 8% of the
penalty element (as measured by XRF) of the pulverized
ore under semi-optimized conditions. Solubilization was
rapid, requiring only two hours of contact time to achieve
maximum removal (Figure 1). This was a single contact test
and additional solubilization is likely with additional con-
tacts. Further, upon the removal of the alumina and silica,
the target metal increased by 2% over the same time.
In addition, we can refine the bio-solvent composition
and the operational parameters to fine-tune the solubiliza-
tion of the gangue while retaining the value metal. One
of the clearest examples of the “tunability” of the bio-sol-
vents is the ability to adjust the ratio of metabolites to tar-
get a penalty element. Figure 2 demonstrates how a subtle
change in the composition of a single bio-solvent resulted
in similar performance for alumina and silica removal and
upgraded the value metal, whereas one version (Bio-solvent
1A) resulted in significantly improved removal of a penalty
element. Similar optimization has also been observed with
temperature controls and with the amount of solid loading
to the bio-solvents. This work is on-going.
Ore Concentrate
The target mineral for solubilization from the concentrate
was MgO, which was present in multiple phases including
serpentine and talc, as determined by XRD. Single contact
testing was conducted on one grab sample. One strong-
performing bio-solvent (Bio-solvent 2) was able to achieve
the removal of approximately 25% of total MgO, while the
losses of cobalt (Co) and nickel were less than 5% under
non-optimized conditions (as measured by XRF, Figure 3).
Figure 1. Gangue Removal from Ore using Bio-solvent 1A. Beneficiation of 4 ore materials
showed significant removal of SiO
2 ,Al
2 O
3 ,and the penalty element, in addition to an increase
in the value metal after just 2 hours of treatment and with only a single contact. Error bars are
based on the measurement of 12 samples (3 of each ore type)