Air Products unlocks mineral wealth
In the full spectrum of mining, Air Products plays an important role in both primary beneficiation and refining.
Robert Richardson, Projects and Proposals manager for Air Products explains: “Oxygen is a vital reagent in the leaching of base metals, as well as in the extraction of certain precious metals, as it assists in the dissolution of metals in acid solutions. It’s also used extensively in Pyrometalurgical processes to raise furnace temperatures, and thereby assist in the smelting of metal concentrates”.
Modern hyrometalurgical processes typically incorporate leach autoclaves, which, in turn, use oxygen under high temperature and pressure to extract metals. Air Products has several sites where it supplies tonnage oxygen to mining companies, where the metals being extracted range from base metals to platinum group metals.
Air Products has a particularly strong presence on the Zambian Copperbelt. Here the company has supplied five on-site plants over the last few years. Two of the plants are used for the leaching of copper and cobalt, at different sites. Others are linked to pyrometallurgical applications such as the roasting of cobalt, or the flash smelting of Copper concentrates . One such plant is currently under construction at the massive Konkola Deep Copper Project in Chingola.
Air Products, through being proactive and efficient, has become the dominant industrial gas supplier to the Copperbelt Mines. To strengthen its hand, the company offers the support of a strong operations and maintenance base in the area.
In South Africa, growth has mainly been in the service to the platinum group metals industry, and the associated by-products stemming from this. Air Products has constructed tonnage plants for Impala Platinum at its refinery in Springs and, some years ago, for Anglo Platinum in Rustenburg.
In the tonnage gas arena, another significant market is the supply of nitrogen and hydrogen to controlled atmosphere applications. These include Nickel producers who operate briquetting furnaces, and various metals producers and finishers who operate annealing or heat treatment furnaces. Nickel powder, for example, needs to be briquetted to make it acceptable for charging into arc furnaces. However, to stop the nickel oxidising under high briquetting temperatures, inert conditions are needed. Nitrogen provides an economical inert atmosphere, while relatively small additions of Hydrogen act as a very effective oxygen scavenger in the furnace environment.
Importantly, designers of metallurgical processes, which are going to be tonnage gas users, are encouraged to speak to Air Products Commercial Technology group. This team can partner with metallurgical consulting engineers to match the gas delivery system to the client’s processes.
Air Products would typically look at issues such as furnace design, burner technology, flow control systems, safety systems, etc. The company has various proprietary technologies, which can be incorporated into a client’s new or existing plant.
The Bulk and Packaged Gas divisions are also responsible for significant gas supplies to minerals processing facilities. Air Products recently won the contract for the supply of bulk Liquid Oxygen to a major new Southern Africa’s uranium producer. Bulk Liquid Gas is often a very effective means of supply during start-up and ramp-up of a new metallurgical process. Bulk Liquid supply provides the flexibility to accommodate large variations in gas off-take, and it allows the end user to properly quantify his gas demands before committing to an on-site plant.
Packaged gases are supplied to the mines, and to their contractors and suppliers for the purpose of construction, manufacturing and maintenance. Air Products supplies the full range of cutting, welding and fabrication gases, as well as specialized gases for instrumentation and analytical applications.
Deep level mines would not be able to operate without chilled air ventilation. Here Air Products is able to supply the appropriate refrigerants.
“What has set Air Products apart in the minerals processing industry is its unquestionable ability to design, construct and commission an industrial gas plant that is going to work well, and which will be reliable and safe to operate,” explains Richardson.
“We have a highly credible project execution capacity, which is important when the client is building a new $1-billion metallurgical complex. These clients cannot afford to have problems due to ancillary services that are either not ready on time, or are unreliable,” he concludes.
For more information contact:
Charles Dos Santos
Air Products South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Title: Sales Manager On-Sites
Tel: +27 11 570 5000
Email: dossantc@apsap.co.za
Published on February 4, 2008 in Air Products News, Product News |