Environmental efficiency for mineral processing through the innovation network

Various climate technologies,including solar panels, electric vehicles, and wind turbines, are being developed at an unprecedented pace, highlighting the critical need for sustainable access to essential raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel, copper, phosphorus, and rare earth elements. However, many processing methods employed in the mining industry are over a century old and were not originally designed with sustainability in mind. The following advanced technologies are emerging from the most efficient and controlled separation methods, which have garnered interest from the mining and processing sectors.
The mining and processing industry plays a vital role in the economies of Eastern and Northern Finland. In the beneficiation processes, the industry is increasingly tasked with processing lower-quality and more complex mineral deposits, which presents additional challenges. Current comminution and processing methods consume excessive energy and generate significant mining waste, adversely affecting the environment and public health. Furthermore, the processing of materials results in substantial water emissions containing heavy metal residues and chemicals, necessitating the development of new processing solutions focused on water purification and enhancing closure rates.
The renewal of processes within the mining industry has lagged, and to meet the demands of the green transition under stricter emission regulations, a comprehensive re-evaluation of unit processes is essential. The project’s objective is to identify innovative solutions for the dry enrichment, leaching, and flotation of mineral fractions critical to the green transition, ensuring that material processing during the enrichment phase aligns with sustainable development principles, utilizing less energy and minimizing environmental impact.
The unit processes developed throughout this project, along with the integrated overall process, will empower stakeholders to mitigate the environmental footprint of the industry. Additionally, the initiative aims to enhance processing methods that promote the utilization of by-products and waste materials that remain underutilized, particularly those classified as critical raw materials (CRM).
This project also focuses on developing intelligent measurement and modeling solutions to optimize the management of both preliminary and subsequent processes. It will explore the potential of using carbon dioxide gas to prevent the oxidation of sulfide ores containing valuable base metals. The goals include reducing chemical usage and identifying strategies to enhance the closure rate of process waters, as well as conducting flotation processes in alignment with sustainable development principles, utilizing more environmentally friendly chemicals.
Moreover, the project will investigate the percolation and precipitation characteristics of various materials from the perspectives of precious metal recovery and water purification. Ultimately, the project aims to deliver insights for the intelligent management of chemicals, raw materials, and water in mine enrichment processes, paving the way for advancements toward zero-emission mining.