6
in Sweden. The HPE blast designs were the same as those
done with nitrate-based emulsions. The initiation products
and methods of charging were also the same as those used
with nitrate-based emulsion. The evaluation site is char-
acterized by very hard basement rock, with compressive
strengths on the order of 500 MPa [72,519 psi] and varied
jointing structure.
Blast results produced equivalent rock breakage,
advance, muck displacement, and excavator performance.
Ventilation and re-entry times were indicatively reduced.
The mining company has expressed further interest in
assessing HPE and is demonstrating industrial leadership
by exploring this transformative explosive technology. See
Figure 3. HPE Blasted Muckpile.
ESG BENEFITS OF HYDROGEN
PEROXIDE EMULSION
It is estimated that 20 million tonnes [22 million tons] of
bulk nitrate-based explosives are used globally each year.
Managing emissions from blasting to air, water, and land
cost mining, quarrying and construction companies bil-
lions of dollars each year. The additional costs of health
and safety and are intuitively known to be high. Delays in
approvals for new mines or mine expansions due to water
treatment permitting bear the cost of lost opportunity.
In the current state of technology, hydrogen peroxide
emulsions offer a product that is essentially free of nitrates
and has mine scale demonstrated rock breaking perfor-
mance. HPE generates carbon dioxide and water as post
blast detonation products. Since HPE contains no signif-
icant quantity of nitrates or ammonia, these residuals in
blasted rock do not leach into aqueous discharge. Residual
HPE decomposes into water and oxygen.
Regarding carbon dioxide reduction, most of the car-
bon reduction benefit from HPE is realized from the lower
carbon intensity required to manufacture hydrogen per-
oxide as compared to ammonium nitrate. Manufacturing
HPE is a cold process as compared to nitrate-based emul-
sions that require energy consumption for solution heating.
Due to carbon-based fuels and emulsifiers, HPE generates
slightly less or equivalent amounts of post blast carbon
dioxide gas as their nitrate- based emulsion counterparts.
Research is taking place to identify carbon free fuels, emul-
sifiers, and binders.
CLOSING WORDS AND FUTURE WORK
1. Hydrogen peroxide emulsion is essentially free
of nitrates and ammonia. Accordingly, for exist-
ing sites, HPE offers sustainable solutions to the
license-to-operate issues of post blast NOx fume
clouds and aqueous nitrate and ammonia dis-
charge. For future sites, the ability to mitigate con-
cerns around NOx fume and aqueous discharges
may aid in the environmental permitting process.
2. The energy and carbon intensity to manufac-
ture hydrogen peroxide emulsion as compared
to nitrate-based emulsion is significantly less.
Utilization of hydrogen peroxide explosives can
contribute to explosive manufacturer and blasting
end user ESG initiatives and targets.
3. Hypex Bio is the world’s first provider of a hydro-
gen peroxide emulsion on an industrial scale. The
availability of a hydrogen peroxide emulsion fulfils
a long- awaited alternative to nitrate-based explo-
sives for end users needing to address environmen-
tal and/or security of supply challenges.
4. In Europe, Scandinavian underground mines and
construction contractors are currently early adopt-
ers of hydrogen peroxide emulsion technology.
Introduction of HPE to surface blasting in this
region is currently in progress. Introduction of
HPE to other regions outside of Europe is being
advanced.
5. Hydrogen peroxide emulsion is an emergent tech-
nology currently suitable for application in tem-
perate climates. Development of an HPE that can
be used in warmer climates is underway.
6. Hydrogen peroxide emulsion is currently available
in bulk format. Work is underway for HPE in car-
tridge form.
Hydrogen peroxide emulsions are a transformative
explosives technology that are only now seeing first light.
Figure 3. HPE Blasted Muckpile
in Sweden. The HPE blast designs were the same as those
done with nitrate-based emulsions. The initiation products
and methods of charging were also the same as those used
with nitrate-based emulsion. The evaluation site is char-
acterized by very hard basement rock, with compressive
strengths on the order of 500 MPa [72,519 psi] and varied
jointing structure.
Blast results produced equivalent rock breakage,
advance, muck displacement, and excavator performance.
Ventilation and re-entry times were indicatively reduced.
The mining company has expressed further interest in
assessing HPE and is demonstrating industrial leadership
by exploring this transformative explosive technology. See
Figure 3. HPE Blasted Muckpile.
ESG BENEFITS OF HYDROGEN
PEROXIDE EMULSION
It is estimated that 20 million tonnes [22 million tons] of
bulk nitrate-based explosives are used globally each year.
Managing emissions from blasting to air, water, and land
cost mining, quarrying and construction companies bil-
lions of dollars each year. The additional costs of health
and safety and are intuitively known to be high. Delays in
approvals for new mines or mine expansions due to water
treatment permitting bear the cost of lost opportunity.
In the current state of technology, hydrogen peroxide
emulsions offer a product that is essentially free of nitrates
and has mine scale demonstrated rock breaking perfor-
mance. HPE generates carbon dioxide and water as post
blast detonation products. Since HPE contains no signif-
icant quantity of nitrates or ammonia, these residuals in
blasted rock do not leach into aqueous discharge. Residual
HPE decomposes into water and oxygen.
Regarding carbon dioxide reduction, most of the car-
bon reduction benefit from HPE is realized from the lower
carbon intensity required to manufacture hydrogen per-
oxide as compared to ammonium nitrate. Manufacturing
HPE is a cold process as compared to nitrate-based emul-
sions that require energy consumption for solution heating.
Due to carbon-based fuels and emulsifiers, HPE generates
slightly less or equivalent amounts of post blast carbon
dioxide gas as their nitrate- based emulsion counterparts.
Research is taking place to identify carbon free fuels, emul-
sifiers, and binders.
CLOSING WORDS AND FUTURE WORK
1. Hydrogen peroxide emulsion is essentially free
of nitrates and ammonia. Accordingly, for exist-
ing sites, HPE offers sustainable solutions to the
license-to-operate issues of post blast NOx fume
clouds and aqueous nitrate and ammonia dis-
charge. For future sites, the ability to mitigate con-
cerns around NOx fume and aqueous discharges
may aid in the environmental permitting process.
2. The energy and carbon intensity to manufac-
ture hydrogen peroxide emulsion as compared
to nitrate-based emulsion is significantly less.
Utilization of hydrogen peroxide explosives can
contribute to explosive manufacturer and blasting
end user ESG initiatives and targets.
3. Hypex Bio is the world’s first provider of a hydro-
gen peroxide emulsion on an industrial scale. The
availability of a hydrogen peroxide emulsion fulfils
a long- awaited alternative to nitrate-based explo-
sives for end users needing to address environmen-
tal and/or security of supply challenges.
4. In Europe, Scandinavian underground mines and
construction contractors are currently early adopt-
ers of hydrogen peroxide emulsion technology.
Introduction of HPE to surface blasting in this
region is currently in progress. Introduction of
HPE to other regions outside of Europe is being
advanced.
5. Hydrogen peroxide emulsion is an emergent tech-
nology currently suitable for application in tem-
perate climates. Development of an HPE that can
be used in warmer climates is underway.
6. Hydrogen peroxide emulsion is currently available
in bulk format. Work is underway for HPE in car-
tridge form.
Hydrogen peroxide emulsions are a transformative
explosives technology that are only now seeing first light.
Figure 3. HPE Blasted Muckpile