INNOVATION July-August 2012

Hydrometallurgical Pilot Plant for

Manganese Production

Kemetco Research completed an extensive pilot program to confirm successful operation of an innovative hydrometallurgical process to recover electrolytic manganese metal from a low grade resource in an energy- and water-efficient manner. Manganese is leached from the resource material using sulphurous acid at ambient temperature. This eliminates the requirement for high temperature reduction roasting that is conventionally used in processing high grade material, thus significantly reducing

energy requirement and CO 2 emissions. Precipitation of the manganese as manganese carbonate prior to electrowinning enables that water to be efficiently recovered from the circuit by crystallizing a saleable sodium sulphate by-product and using nanofitration. This water recovery scheme lowers the energy to recover water by 16 times versus simple evaporation. This new hydrometallurgical process is planned for use at the Artillery Peak deposit in Arizona by American Manganese. Project Team: Kemetco Research (Norman Chow PEng, Doug Warkentin PEng, Dr Gie Tan, Dr Anca Nacu). Owner: American Manganese (John W Fisher PEng, Mike MacLeod PEng).

Soil Vapour Mitigation System McCue Environmental Contracting is in the final stages of the installation of a soil vapour mitigation system for a mixed-use development at a site impacted with dry cleaning solvent contaminants. The project involved the installation of over 400 m of vapour-collection piping, 800 m 2 of impermeable vapour barrier and the supply and installation of a vapour extraction blower. McCue is providing both engineering and contracting services for the project and has worked closely with Thurber Engineering in addition to the development owner, architects, electrical contractors and construction contractors to provide a design and construction plan that could be readily integrated into the existing building design and construction schedule. The design meets the new BC Ministry of Environment technical requirements for a soil vapour mitigation system and Lynda Smithard PEng of McCue is serving as the Engineer of Record.

South Fraser Perimeter Road Landfill Closure

The South Fraser Perimeter Road (SFPR) is a 37 km long four-lane highway being constructed as a part of BC’s Gateway Program. The SFPR alignment passes through five demolition, land clearing and construction waste landfills located on the south side of River Road in Delta. To safely construct the SFPR right-of-way through these landfill sites, proper landfill closure was required. Working to tight deadlines, Sperling Hansen Associates developed closure plans and detailed designs for safely capping the sites. A total area of 8.9 ha was closed with a geomembrane cover system. The closure system included leachate collection, surface water and landfill gas management systems. The closure project reclaimed under-used industrial lands and enhanced protection of the environmentally sensitive Burns Bog. Client: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Professionals Involved: Dr Tony Sperling PEng, Dr Iqbal Hossain Bhuiyan PEng, Cris Ciuperca PEng, Ted Steele PEng (Kerr Wood Leidal) and Nathalie Maurer EIT.

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