The testing focused on extracting gold and copper from waste streams. SiTration successfully recovered bullion-grade gold (99.99% purity) from gold containing streams using a simplified process and also achieved 99.9% purity in copper recovery from residual waste liquids.
SiTration's successful demonstration signifies a significant breakthrough in mining innovation, pioneering efficient and low-cost electro-extraction technology to recover minerals from waste and processing streams. SiTration's silicon-based electrode technology delivers strong durability, selectivity, and efficiency, enabling the recovery of high-purity products directly from dilute, complex, and chemically harsh streams.
Simplifying flow sheets has the potential to decrease the use of processing chemicals and reduce costs, laying the groundwork for a new era of mineral recovery. For the near term, we are targeting copper and gold waste streams from different BHP assets. Potential future use cases could contribute to unlocking low grade copper material that is currently seen as waste. “SiTration's trial with BHP Invent validates how our breakthrough approach can modernise existing processing operations and set a new standard for resource-efficient, cost-effective mineral recovery across the industry”, said Dr. Brendan Smith, Co-founder and CEO of SiTration.
“Projects like this are how we turn big ideas into real impact, connecting global innovation with the challenges we’re solving every day across our operations. By accelerating innovation in processing technologies, we can maximise every tonne mined, through reducing inputs and lowering energy and water use. Together, we’re collaborating to deliver safer, more productive, and more sustainable outcomes,” said Marley Palin, Acting Vice President BHP Innovation.