(TheNewswire)
Files PatentApplication for Industry’s First-ever, Zero-Waste Bioleach ProcessUsing Green Technology for Metals Recovery and Fertilizer and SteelProduction from Sulphide Minerals
KeyHighlights:
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Company files expanded Provisional Patent Applicationfor ground-breaking, zero-waste bioleach process IntellectualProperty (IP)
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Engineered for eco-friendly nickel, copper and cobaltrecovery from pyrrhotite and pyrite tailings, new zero-waste IPintroduces novel methods for transforming remaining waste compoundsinto valuable, alternative green commodities.
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Zero-waste IP now optimized to convert soluble ironinto iron metal (produced on-site or as a feedstock to green steelmaking) and to create ammonium sulphate fertilizer from bioleach acid(sold as organic fertilizer).
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Independent estimates suggest approximately 80 to 100million tonnes of pyrrhotite tailings in the Sudbury, Ontario regionalone ( pyrrhotite andpyrite waste is common to many mining operations).
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Testing and Collaboration with MIRARCO (MiningInnovation, Rehabilitation, and Applied Research Corporation)continues for pilot-scale bioleach circuit testing inSudbury.
TORONTO, ON – TheNewswire - April 5 , 2024 – BacTech EnvironmentalCorporation (“ BacTech ” or the“ Company ”) ( CSE:BAC ) , ( OTC:BCCEF ) , ( FSE:0BT1 ), awell-established environmental technology company specializing inenvironmentally friendly bioleaching and remediation solutions for therecovery of precious metals and critical minerals, today announces ithas filed an expanded provisional patent application introducing newIntellectual Property (IP) and methods capitalizing on the inherentmechanisms of bioleaching. This process, aside from effectivelyextracting valuable metals like nickel, copper, and cobalt frompyrrhotite or pyrite tailings, uses eco-friendly technology andsustainable power sources to eliminate all waste during tailingsreprocessing operations, delivering a first-ever zero-waste,low-carbon liberation , andextraction approach for valuable metals recovery.
Making Steel, Fertilizer andRecovering Metals Using Green Technology
Pyrrhotite is an iron sulphide mineral containing lowlevels of nickel, cobalt, and copper — typically dismissed anddiscarded as an uneconomical waste by-product by mining operationsthat continues to perpetuate an environmental tailings legacy in needof remediation.
The Company’s updated Intellectual Property (IP)retains its original bioleaching approach to recovering metal valuesand producing multiple commodities from low grade mine wastes, but nowintroduces novel innovation to selectively convert soluble iron intoiron metal for green steel making and produce ammonium sulphatefertilizer from the sulphur which is converted to acid duringbioleaching. Steel manufacturing produces more CO2 than any otherheavy industry, comprising around 8% of total global emissions. Thereare numerous worldwide initiatives from industry and government focused on environmental andeconomic solutions for reducing CO2 in steel manufacturing.
While the patent application update offers two ironproduct options, BacTech will first explore direct electrowinning ofiron from the bioleach solution for on-site iron metal production,potentially bypassing the need for manufacturing an iron feedstock forconventional iron/steel production and likely proving to be moreenvironmentally sustainable and cost-effective. Further, following thesequential precipitation of copper, nickel, and cobalt from thesolution, the soluble ammonium sulphate, produced during the process,will be crystallized and packaged for sale at a premium as an organicfertilizer. Any residual water will be returned to the process,effectively leaving zero-waste .
Applicable to the treatment of existing pyrrhotite orpyrite tailings or streams from current operations, the primaryproducts delivered through the new zero-waste ,low-carbon bioleach processes specifically include:
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Mixed nickel/cobalt precipitate.
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Copper precipitate.
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On-site iron metal production via electrowinning oriron pellets for off-site conventional iron manufacturing or greensteel making.
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Ammonium sulphate fertilizer.
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Additional minor by-products such as magnetite powderand geopolymers silica for construction material or mine backfill.
The technology can also be adapted to recover preciousmetals and platinum group elements present in low grade pyritefeedstocks.
Close Collaboration withMIRARCO
BacTech continues its close collaboration with MIRARCO(Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation, and Applied Research Corporation),an organization renowned for providing innovative solutions tochallenges in the mining industry since its establishment in 1998.MIRARCO have set up a pilot-scale bioleach circuit in Sudbury toconduct test work on BacTech’s technology, aimed at breaking downpyrrhotite sulphide minerals into individual elements. Independentestimates suggest that there are approximately 80 to 100 milliontonnes of pyrrhotite tailings in the Sudbury basin, containing 60%iron, 30-35% sulphur, 0.85% nickel, 0.03% cobalt, and copper,accumulated over a century of mining activity.
Drawing on past experience (Radio Hill, Australia) withbioleaching pyrrhotite material for nickel recovery, BacTech isconfident in replicating previous results while the new IP enhancesproject value by enabling the production of multiple productspreviously unattainable through conventional bioleach processing. Zeroor minimal waste from remediation operations also converts previouslyunusable land into valued assets.
“BacTech's IP development path specifically alignswith broader trends across mining and steel industry operations,consistent with continued public and policymakercalls to shift processes and reduce carbonemissions,” said Ross Orr, President, and CEO of BacTech.“Furthermore, it is appropriate to the commercial interests ofnon-ferrous metal production, steel making and fertilizer productionwhich are all traditionally siloed as separate industries. We believeour zero-waste metals recovery IP will emerge as a defining solution andunprecedented industry game-changer. By diversifying the range ofproducts derived from these projects, BacTech aims to reducedependence on long-term metal prices as the primary drivers forinvestment in remediation efforts while treating pyrrhotite and pyritewaste streams from current operations. BacTech plans to capitalize onfostering both sustainability and profitability in the industry bycreating land value previously occupied by a legacy of mining industrywaste.”
About BacTech EnvironmentalCorporation
BacTech Environmental Corporation is a company thatspecializes in environmental technology. We use a process calledbioleaching to recover metals like gold, silver, cobalt, nickel, andcopper, while also safely removing harmful contaminants like arsenic.This process is eco-friendly and uses naturally occurring bacteriathat are safe for both humans and the environment. By using ourproprietary method of bioleaching, we can neutralize toxicconcentrates and tailings while also creating profitableopportunities. The company is publicly traded on several stockexchanges, including the CSE, OTCQB, and Frankfurt StockExchange.
For further informationcontact:
Ross Orr
President & CEO, BacTechEnvironmental Corporation
416-813-0303 ext. 222,
Email: borr@bactechgreen.com
Website: https://bactechgreen.com/
Investor Presentation: https://bactechgreen.com/investors/
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Special Note RegardingForward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-lookinginformation”, which may include, but is not limited to, statementswith respect to future tailings sites, sampling or otherinvestigations of tailing sites, the Company’s ability to make useof infrastructure around tailings sites or operating performance ofthe Company and its projects. Often, but not always, forward-lookingstatements can be identified using words such as “plans”,“expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”,“estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, orbelieves” or variations (including negative variations) of suchwords and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results“may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” betaken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve knownand unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause theactual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to bematerially different from any future results, performance orachievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date ofthis news release and the Company disclaims, other than as required bylaw, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether because of newinformation, results, future events, circumstances, or ifmanagement’s estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise.There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will proveto be accurate, as actual results and future events could differmaterially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, thereader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-lookingstatements.
The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewedand does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy ofthe contents of this release.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sellor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the shares, nor is it asolicitation of interest from a prospective investor.
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