According to mining industry analysts, rarely has there been such a clear combination of biotech innovation and market need as with the partnership between Allonnia and Eagle Mine. The companies have decided to test the D-Solve technology in a real-world production scenario, with the goal of improving nickel nickel recovery and optimize the treatment of concentrates.
Can D-Solve technology optimize nickel?
At the Eagle Mine operation, magnesium in the concentrate generates smelter penalties and causes the loss of valuable nickel in the tailings.
D-Solvea bioengineered solution, employs microbes to selectively dissolve gangue minerals, reducing impurities and increasing concentrate grade. concentrate grade. This pilot will continuously process 1 to 2 tons per day, which will allow evaluation of the system’s performance and scalability.
Global challenges and the need for innovation
Global nickel demand projected to rise with the energy transition energy transitionas ore grades continue to decline and processing costs increase. In this scenario, solutions capable of extracting more metal from existing material, with less environmental impact, will be critical.
Allonnia plans that D-Solve can be applied not only to nickel, but also to other critical minerals. critical minerals such as copper, molybdenum and lithium.
Pre-testing and expectations
In a 2024 test at SGS Lakefield, D-Solve reduced magnesium by 40% and increased nickel grade by 18%, while maintaining stable recovery. These results motivated Eagle Mine to become the first operation to test the technology in real-world conditions, with the expectation of improving efficiency and extending mine life.
If the pilot confirms projections, D-Solve could establish itself as a standard for producers facing the dual pressures of increasing metal recovery and meeting sustainability goals.
This collaboration exemplifies how the convergence of biotechnology and mining can open up more efficient ways to manage critical resources.
Source and photo: Allonnia via BusinessWire
