Intec Ltd.

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Chloride hydrometallurgical technology innovator Intec Ltd. has applied its patented process to projects from spent pickle liquor recycling and the processing of copper-gold concentrates to rare earth metals—from Japan to the U.S. to the Middle East—and the results surpass expectation.

From rare earth metals to gold, copper, zinc, lead, cobalt or nickel, metals market-watchers forecast significant sustaining growth leading to 2020 and beyond, and ravenous consumers will inevitably rely on cutting edge minerals processing and industrial wastes recycling if their appetites are to be sated. All manner of challenges are thrown up by the mineral deposits exploited today; the deeper mined, more complex metallurgy and generally more costly ore many miners are grappling with as easy-cash mineable assets diminish. And while today’s conventional processing and waste-handling methods meet the needs of the majority, it goes without saying that where economic and environmental improvements can be made, we’re all keen to hear more.

This globally-pressing force majeure is one that Sydney-founded chloride hydrometallurgy specialist Intec Ltd. (ASX: INL) (“Intec”) knows well, and applying, demonstrating and improving its patented technology has propelled the team onto the world stage with good reason.

Since speaking with IRJ in March, 2011, Intec been busy tackling metallurgical issues in recycling spent pickle liquor (SPL) for the galvanizing industry, rare earth metals recycling, successfully processing electric-arc furnace (“EAF”) dust, arsenopyrite gold recovery trials in the U.S. state of Colorado and even a new joint venture minerals processing agreement in the Middle East. All considered, across these varied projects it appears that each time Intec gets involved, new cost and impact benefits abound.

“We’re small, highly specialised and we’re a key player in our field. We’re very happy to present ourselves as such on a world scale,” chief executive and managing director Philip Wood says.

“The world demand for metals generally will only continue to increase. The means of processing those metals will be all-important and people have to be open to new processing, which is where Intec comes in from both an economic and environmental point of view.”

If mounting appreciation for Intec’s work offers any indication, plenty of major international groups are already carefully eyeing the company’s achievements.

Into Rare Earth Metals

While Intec continues to apply its technology and garner success in founding areas of expertise such as zinc, copper-gold concentrates, refractory gold projects and the needs of the galvanizing industries to name a few, Wood says that the company’s moves into rare earth metals are perhaps its most prominent of late. The plight of rare earths—their metallurgical complexity and routine accompaniment by radioactive elements such as thorium and uranium—is clearly defined, but Intec’s technology continues to turn up highly attractive options for tackling processing and waste handling woes, well-timed as demand continues to rise.

“We have found that, essentially, our technology readily gets the rare earth metals dissolved into solution—a major achievement in itself—and then the question is how to recover them as purely as possible as products in order to get the premium price for them?” Wood explains.

“Currently, we’re focusing on industrial waste that contains rare earth metals rather than the original mineral ore. We’ve been involved in Japan; a nation with abundant uses for rare earth metals which wants to develop alternative sources of supply to market dominant China. Also, Japan wants to recycle rare earth metals from its industrial wastes—quite a lot of them contain these payable metals.”

Working with Australia’s CSIRO and Japanese parties, Intec’s aptly-named R.E.cycling Project has run successful test work which shows that its technology can separate the rare earth (‘R.E.’) metals, readying them for sale. These activities have been carried out at CSIRO’s Perth laboratories and the Intec research facility in Burnie, Tasmania, which Wood says the company will reconfigure during 2012 in order to advance its works in rare earths beyond the process development stage.
“While the volumes aren’t large, the value is. Each tonne of industrial waste residue contains well above $10,000 of rare earth metals. Relatively small tonnages, if properly treated, can generate substantial revenues,” he explains.

“It can be done at a relatively small plant like Burnie. If that’s a demonstrated success, we’ll work with the Japanese to suggest that rather than sending small amounts down to Australia, they’d be well-advised to set up their own larger scale plant in Japan using our technology.”

The work underway at Intec’s Burnie plant hasn’t gone unnoticed further afield. A U.S.-based major group has recently commissioned the company to run test work on their residues and Wood says that the same concept applies: Running testing in Intec’s native Australia to reach a level of confidence warranting the partner company to consider building versions of the facilities to scale, utilising Intec’s technology in their own project area. Formulating this proven concept is another milestone for the team; a globally transferrable means of partnering and further proving its technology, which will be an ever more viable option as global demand keeps on rising.

Intec Middle East & more minerals processing

As a region synonymous with industrial development, natural resource extraction and booming demand for the products thereof, entering the Middle East is both a challenge and desirable move for many. Describing Intec’s entrance into the market and the group’s need for the right partner, Wood introduces the IRC Project; a 50/50 joint venture through Intec’s co-owned subsidiary, Intec International Projects Pty Ltd. (IIP).

“IIP’s client has existing operations whereby via their plant they’re throwing away around 200,000 tonnes per annum of filter cake, which contains about 10 per cent zinc, around 10 per cent lead, and also indium and germanium,” he says.

“We’ve done the test work and signed the contracts for a feasibility study leading to construction of a commercial scale plant at the project site, and then subsequent options for expansion.”

As a major Intec focus in minerals processing, this project involves a significant test work and engineering programme, initial stage one treating of 25,000 tonnes per annum feedstock leading to 200,000 tonnes per annum (as produced in current operations) and handling another two million tonnes stockpile.
“We’re optimistic that this will be a fairly major source of revenue generation in this current financial year,” Wood says.

Reflecting on the $1.5 million profit Intec has posted for 2010-2011—largely due to the $5 million agreement with JX Nippon Mining and Metals Corporation, which saw the Asian group pay to access Intec’s technology—Wood notes that the IRC Project is not the only undertaking which may give the company cause for celebration in 2012.

Intec & future innovation

Back in March, Wood said that predicting where Intec will next apply its technology is tricky. He hinted that the team might move into rare earth metals, noting industrial wastes from high tech usages such as iPhones and hybrid cars as one avenue of interest, but maintained that with such wide-ranging interest streaming in from all over the world and continued success wherever its technology is administered, the company remained steadfastly open to every viable project presented – particularly those with strong funding support from a suitable project partner.

This approach, utilising facilities in Burnie and combining them with international requests, has served the company well in some of the most uncertain times financial markets have endured in living memory. Moreover, with strategically-forged partnerships and well-proven technology, Intec has no need to revisit the volatile capital markets or seek any other funding for its endeavours. The only construction cost, Wood says, will be future works at the Burnie plant aimed at reconfiguring the current setup to capacitate its rare earth metals works; and Intec’s balance sheet is equipped to handle this.

One year from now, the Melbourne SPL plant (with project partner GB Galvanizing Service Pty Ltd. (GBG), the largest galvanizing operator in the state, and backing from Victoria’s EPA) will be well into construction. The rare earth metals processing facilities at the Burnie plant will be progressing through the commissioning phase. All EAF dust will be processed and Intec will be on the hunt for more. In the Denver gold trials, significant advances will unfold towards project utilisation proposals. And in the Middle East, the IRC Project feasibility study will be underway.

At each respective project Intec’s technology continues to deliver economical and environmental benefits, and now with a proven concept for partnering and demonstrated works at Burnie backing its use to scale, it appears that the company has cracked it. Chloride hydrometallurgy may not be overlooked for much longer, and as the tide continues to turn alongside booming metals demand, Intec and its partners will lead the way in innovative, more effective minerals processing and industrial wastes recycling.  

Further reading 

IRJ first met Intec and introduced its technology in March, 2011. To read this article and learn more about the company, please visit http://www.internationalresourcejournal.com/brochures/Mar_11/Intec/index.php

To read more about Intec’s projects, please visit
http://www.intec.com.au/uploaded_files/document_uploads/2011%20Nov%2021%20-%20AGM%20Presentation.pdf

To read more about Intec or contact the team, please visit http://www.intec.com.au