Kentucky Patent of the Month – November 2024

Extrakt Process Solutions has developed a groundbreaking method to tackle one of the mining industry’s biggest challenges: safely and effectively consolidating metal-based ore tailings. This innovative process transforms waste management by treating fine particles in tailings with highly water-soluble salts, including ammonium-based salts. The result? A consolidated material that significantly reduces environmental risks while reclaiming process water for reuse.

Tailings, the byproducts of mining operations, often consist of fine particles that are difficult to dewater and store, leading to massive impoundments prone to failure. Extrakt’s method introduces a game-changing approach by leveraging the chemistry of soluble salts to neutralize particle charges, enabling rapid aggregation and consolidation. This process can increase solids content in tailings to over 45% by weight, making them safer and easier to manage.

The innovation doesn’t stop there. By integrating polymer flocculants alongside soluble salts, the process enhances the efficiency of particle binding, accelerating dewatering and producing materials suitable for land reclamation. Furthermore, the separated process water, rich in salts, can be recovered and recycled, supporting sustainable mining practices.

Extrakt’s method also holds promise for recovering valuable materials such as rare earth elements (REEs) from tailings, addressing growing global demand for these critical resources. By treating tailings streams, REEs can be extracted, turning waste into economic value.

This sustainable solution addresses the environmental and economic challenges of tailings management head-on, reducing the risks of catastrophic dam failures, minimizing environmental impact, and enabling water conservation. Extrakt Process Solutions is setting a new standard in mining waste management, creating pathways for safer, greener, and more profitable operations.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

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