Mintek

Mintek
Mining and Minerals Research
Industry Mining
Founded 1934
Headquarters Randburg, South Africa,
Key people
Abiel Mngomezulu
Products MillStar, FloatStar, FurnStar, Minstral, Conroast
Website www.mintek.co.za

Mintek is an autonomous research and development (R&D) organisation specialising in all aspects of mineral processing, extractive metallurgy and related technology.

Mintek was originally established as a Minerals research laboratory by the government of South Africa in 1934. It is still partly funded by the state with a mandate to “promote mineral technology and to foster the establishment and expansion of industries in the field of minerals and products derived from them”.

In collaboration with minerals and metal producers locally and internationally, Mintek develops and transfers new technology to industry for processing, extracting, refining and utilising minerals and mineral products.

Mintek offers R&D expertise, service test work, and technologies for the gold, platinum-group metals (PGM), base metals, ferro-alloys, and industrial minerals sectors. Extensive laboratory and pilot-plant facilities are available for investigations in the following fields: Analysis (characterisation of ores and other materials, analytical chemistry and mineralogical techniques), Minerals processing, Hydrometallurgy, and Pyrometallurgy.

History

Mintek has its origins in co-operation between the government of South Africa and the University of the Witwatersrand .

Mintek, South Africa’s National Minerals-Research Organisation was founded in 1934 to assist the Mining Industry to operate more effectively and profitably, has achieved international recognition for its contributions. The Mining and minerals industry of South Africa has been extremely innovative, and many notable advances in extraction, refining and manufacturing technologies originating there have impacted on the minerals industry worldwide.

Mintek works with industry and other R&D organisations to research, develop and implement new and improved technologies in the minerals and metallurgical sectors. South Africa has become a world leader in this technological niche, with a successful record of technology export. Mintek’s research complex is situated in Randburg, about 15 km north of Johannesburg and within easy reach of Johannesburg International airport.

Minerals Research Laboratory

Government Mettalurgical Laboratory

National Institute for Metallurgy

Council for Mineral Technology (MINTEK)

Divisions

Mintek's scientific and engineering divisions undertake product development and process design work, and provide a complete suite of consulting and testwork services to meet industry needs. Each division focuses on a specific technology area within the broad spectrum of metallurgy and minerals processing, although many projects require input from several areas of specialisation. In addition, Mintek's output activities are divided into programmes that are based largely on the major resource sectors, thus enhancing market orientation and focus.

Biotechnology (BIO)

Services offered include biotechnology for the process of gold and complelx base metal ores, including copper, lead and zinc. This involves amenability testwork and consulting, integrated piloting with metal recovery by solvent extraction/electrowinning, flowsheet design, and plant commissioning. Use is made of improvement microbial cultures and novel contacting equipment.

Minerals Processing (MPD)

This division offers flowsheet design and optimisation for the processing of gold, platinum-group metals, and a broad spectrum of base metals and industrial minerals. It boasts well-equipped laboratories and pilot plants for sample preparation and characterisation, including crushing and grinding; dense media separation; classification; electrostatic and magnetic techniques; gravity concentration; jigging; ultrafine grinding; modelling and simulation; circuit audits, and design optimisation.

Hydrometallurgy (HMD)

Mintek's Hydrometallurgy division develops cost-effective methods for mineral extraction, upgrading and optimisation, including leaching; precipitation; pressure leaching; solvent extraction; ion exchange; electrowinning; gold process testing and development (CIP, RIP); chloride-based gold recovery processes; carbon regeneration; metal recovery from wastes by ion exchange; acid mine drainage treatment;cyanide speciation and department; chromium (IV) studies, and waste characterisation (acid rain and TCLP tests).

Pyrometallurgy (PDD)

In the pyrometallurgy division improved or new pyrometallurgical processes are researched and developed. These include DC-are technology for ferroalloy smelting/melting; ilmenite smelting; ferronickel production from laterites; cobalt-copper recovery from furnace and converter slags; zinc recovery from slags and residues; ferro-alloy recovery from steel-plant dusts; matte and alloy smelting of low-sulphide high-chromium PGM concentrates; preheating; prereduction; smelting; fuming and condensing, and process modelling and simulation. The High Temperature Technology group of Pyro brings special skills to the pyrometallurgical processing environment, and carries out work on process development and optimisation for Mintek's Pyromettallurgy division and the local and international metallurgical industries. Activities include high temperature process development, solid-state and phase quilibrium studies of metallurgical systems at elevated temperatures, and investigations of the performance of refractory materials used in furnaces and ladles.

Advance Materials Division (AMD)

Mintek's Advanced Materials Division develops cost-effective materials and alloys for use in the metallurgical industry, including novel jewellry alloys – coloured gold, hard 22 and 24-carat gold, and nickel-free white gold. Further areas of endeavour are the development of cost-effective low-alloy stainless steels, high-performance PGM-based superalloys, 'smart' materials based on phase transformations, new industrial uses for old, and materials selection, wear, corrosion and failure investigations, as well as novel granulation technologies.

Measurement and Control (MAC)

Mintek's Measurement and Control division develops unique measurement techniques for cyanide monitoring and carbon activity. Process control products include MillStar milling control, FloatStar advanced stabilising controller for flotation circuits, Furnstar (Minstral) resistance-based control for submerged-arc furnaces and StarCS, a web-based, plant wide control platform for stabilising control and optimisation.

Analytical Services (ASD)

Mintek's Analytical Services division applies a wide range of analytical techniques to support Mintek's process-development activities, particularly the pilot plant operations. The division is accredited with ISO Guide 25/ SABS 0259 (1990) and EN 45001 (1989) requirements, and is the only producer of geological and metallurgical certified reference materials in South Africa.

Mineralogy (MNL)

The mineralogy division of Mintek carries out sample characterisation by optical microscopy and instrumental methods (X-ray diffraction, electron microprobe and image analysis), high temperature solid-state studies, phase equilibrium studies, performance of refactories, air quality monitoring and source apportionment.

Small Scale Mining and Benefication (SSMB)

Mintek, through its Small Scale Mining unit has undertaken to develop appropriate technology for the benefication of minerals and to offer technical service to all small-scale miners in South Africa and the Africa by promoting effective and sustainable utilisation of mineral resources. This is being done through research and development and the provision of training and support for artisanal and small-scale miners (ASSMs) so that development can be as sustainable as possible when based on limited resources. A positive contribution is being made to employment creation, gender equity, and the alleviation of poverty and the effects of the AIDS scourge in some of the poorest areas through the utilisation of resources in undeveloped or abandoned mineral deposits.

Mineral Economics and Strategies Unit (MESU)

The Minerals Economics and Strategies Unit undertakes regional studies on mineral-based development, feasibility studies of socio-economically important benefication projects, for example the Rural Jewellery Development Project.

Notes

  1. "100 Furnace Control Systems", SA Instrumentation & Control, March 2009.

References

External links