CMI researchers from Colorado School of Mines and Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducted the activity for this highlight
Innovation
Developing novel approaches for PGM recovery from refractory materials and optimizing conditions for critical mineral recovery during tailings reprocessing.
Achievement
- Flotation proved more effective than magnetic separation for reprocessing of tailings from the Eagle Mine. Copper sulfate addition significantly enhanced the enrichment ratios of nickel, copper, and cobalt coproducts.
- Magnetic separation showed promising results for TBRC refractory feedstocks from Sibanye-Stillwater, achieving a 68% mass yield and 60% palladium recovery. Additionally, microscale froth flotation of spent EAF refractory bricks using a selective collector resulted in palladium recoveries of up to 60%.
Significance and Impact
Improving the efficiency of PGM production from U.S. domestic sources supports national critical mineral security and promotes waste reduction through advanced tailings reprocessing.
Hub Targets Addressed
Improving efficiency of PGM production from domestic sources.
