Eco Metals Recovery

CASE STUDY 2 cont… ▲ The formula is also cost-effective because it can be reused. “Not only does it offer an environmentally friendly solution but it offers a sustainable solution,” Nelson says. The company has caught the attention of more than 140 mining firms, manufacturers and recyclers of electronics in more than 17 different countries. ▲ While he wouldn’t name any names, Nelson states the group is in talks with some large clients in mining and some of the biggest manufacturers in e-waste. “Everybody that we talk to is very excited by this technology,” he says. “In the mining sector, there’s been such a lack of innovation. This is the most exciting innovation since the advent of cyanide.” ▲ EnviroLeach, spun out of Iberian Minerals in December 2016, has started construction of a 10 tonne per day e-waste processing plant with Mineworx Technologies. It will have initial annual capacity of 2,500 tonnes of PCBAs, making it the largest and most environmentally friendly chemistry-based e-waste processing facility in North America. ▲ The plant, which is expected to be completed by the end of Q4 2017, will handle all aspects of the e-waste recycling process, including material pre-treatment, shredding, grinding, leaching and metal extraction. Operating costs, capital costs, development timelines and permitting procedures are expected to be much lower than those associated with a typical mining project. ▲ EnviroLeach believes e-waste recycling will play a significant role in the coming decade as the volume of electronic products going into landfills continues to grow at a worrying rate. “Apple, Microsoft, DELL, CISCO and others are all looking for environmentally responsible recycling alternatives for their components,” Nelson says. The company sees a continued rise in demand for gold in electronics as the number of mines is limited, the costs are higher, and the mines are often located in challenging political and geographic locations. Nelson says that by using the company’s formula, miners will also be able to set up shop in areas that are prohibited from using cyanide. ▲ He also believes urban mining provides tremendous opportunity. “Previously, the only way to get gold out of e-waste was to put it into a smelter or use hot acid solutions, which is not cost effective. It’s not sustainable, and not healthy for the environment,” Nelson explains. ▲ Source- http://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/182868/enviroleach- technologies-set-to-overhaul-mining-sector-with-eco-friendly-gold-leaching- formula-182868.html