ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGES RECOGNISED IN 2009

The Intec Process, and particularly Intec's heavy metal recycling operations at the Burnie Research Facility, were twice recognised in 2009 in state and national awards. Intec was a finalist for the 2009 Tasmanian Awards for environmental excellence, as well as for the Eco Innovation category of the prestigious Banksia Environmental Awards.

This recognition forms part of a growing awareness of the Intec Process as a cheaper, cleaner alternative for the recovery and recycling of heavy metals from various sources, and most particularly from industrial waste solids, sludges and residues that would normally be treated and disposed to landfill.


LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

The CSIRO has conducted a life cycle assessment of the Intec Copper Process. This showed that the Intec Process offered significant overall environmental advantages over competing copper production technologies, particularly in the 'Acid Rain' category.

Click here to download the file in PDF format:
CSIRO Life Cycle Analysis.pdf (Acrobat PDF Document, 382Kb) 


ADVANTAGES OF THE INTEC PROCESS
Superior and Sustainable Metals Production

No Liquid Effluent and Benign Gaseous Emissions

The Intec Process is inherently environmentally sustainable because it is based on a non-toxic brine lixiviant. There is no liquid effluent, and only benign gases in the form of spent air and water vapor are produced.

Higher Metals Recovery

Up to 99% recovery of lead, zinc, copper, silver, gold, nickel and other metals from a range of different mineral and industrial feedstocks. Higher recoveries mean less waste, both from industrial operations and from minerals processing applications.

Recycle Industrial Wastes

The Intec Process and related technology and know-how can be used to extract and recover metals from industrial solid wastes, sludges and wastewaters that would otherwise be sent to landfill. This is being done at the commercial scale at Intec's Burnie Research Facility, with other operations under development within Australia and internationally.

Stable Solids Residue

The residue generated by the leach process consists of gangue minerals plus chemically generated elemental sulphur and hematite. The electrolyte composition inhibits the formation of jarosite. Arsenic (if any) from the concentrate feed is stabilised in the residues as ferro-arsenate.

If commercially desirable, the sulphur can be separated from the residue, whilst the hematite, a stable iron oxide, is known to stabilise heavy metals.

The residue produced is suitable for landfill. Operations at the Intec Copper demonstration plant saw all of the residues pass the New South Wales (Australia) Environmental Protection Authority's Toxicity Controlled Leach Procedure (TCLP) test for solid wastes, with the majority passing inert waste classification.

To read more about the Intec Copper Process leach residues:
Green Processing 2002.pdf (Acrobat PDF Document, 839Kb)

Strong Potential Returns

Average capital and operating costs per tonne of product are lower than traditional smelting.

Tighter Pollution Controls Curb Traditional Smelting

The pace of regulation and laws limiting and controlling emissions is accelerating, placing further curbs on smelter operations around the world.

Proven Production Process

The origins of hydrometallurgy date back 2,000 years. The Intec Process has been developed over more than 15 years, with over 5 years of pilot, demonstration (minerals  and commercial (waste recycling) plant operating experience.

Overseas Opportunity

Intec has patents and licences for its unique technology in more than 50 countries around the world, including China, Mongolia, Japan, Russia, Europe, the USA and Canada.

Our Timing is Right

Demand for alternatives to smelting and recycling of waste metals is at record levels, with signs of further growth.