pH7’s new technology unlocks trapped value from heap ores.
Mines around the world face challenges with lower than optimal heap leach recoveries due to a variety of factors such as stacking of refractory and transitional (partially oxidized) ores or the presence of preg-robbing minerals. These mines are not realizing the maximum potential value from their stacked ore and may be incurring substantial additional costs by running multiple parallel processing flowsheets to maximize recoveries from these challenging ores.
pH7 Technologies is at the forefront of sustainable metal extraction, pioneering an innovative and environmentally friendly approach to the metallurgical extraction of critical metals and gold from mining ores. Our proprietary closed loop solvometallurgical process will significantly reduce environmental impacts and increase mining recoveries, liberating previously trapped ore.
DOES YOUR OPERATION SUFFER FROM LOW HEAP RECOVERIES? WE CAN HELP.
We can maximize your heap recoveries without any significant changes to your flowsheet. pH7 enables heap operators to maximize their recoveries, revenue and mine life cycle by utilizing a modular organo-electrochemical technology into their heap operation.
pH7 process enables current and future mining operators to replace complicated and expensive mills and concentrators with the pH7’s heap leach approach to extract metals from oxide, transition and sulphide ores, unlocking all the advantages of heap leach operations without the constraints.
How does it work?
pH7’s organo-electrochemical process enables heap extraction for transition, primary and secondary sulfide ores on top of oxide ores.
A proprietary electrochemical module is added to the heap leach process without any changes in the flow sheet. This unit produces an in-situ oxidizer strong enough to break the metal-sulphur bonds, eliminate passivation layer and oxidizes the target metal. The lixiviant’s organic ligands bond with oxidized metal, carrying it to the solvent extraction or ion exchange unit, followed by electrowinning to extract the metal. The barren solution then passes through the electrochemical unit again, regenerating the oxidant prior to irrigating the heap.
This heap leach mining process allows operators to extract copper and gold from oxide, transition, and sulfide ores, producing copper cathode or gold doré on-site while eliminating the need for mills, concentrators, concentrate shipments, and smelters.
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT
- 50% reduction in total GHG emissions
- Eliminates smelting
(1 ton CO₂e/ton metal reduction) - Reduces electricity consumption
by 2.5 MWh/ton - Cuts transport emissions by 70%
- Eliminates tailings disposal
- 50% lower water consumption
ECONOMIC
BENEFITS
- Lower cut-off grades in sulfide ores
- Lower operating costs through simplified process
- Offsets energy consumption by on-stie hydrogen production
- Extends mine life cycle by extracting lower grade ores
MARKET
POSITION
- Only solution enabling direct heap leaching of sulfide ores
- Faster processing time than traditional methods
- Integration with existing heap leach infrastructure
- Protected by comprehensive
IP portfolio
VALUE
CREATION
- Unlocks value in transitional
ore bodies - Reduces capital requirements
by 20% - Lowers cut-off grades by
over 30% - Eliminates need for
concentrate shipping
