Pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy

As the mining, metals, energy, battery and recycling industries face increasing pressure to enhance efficiency, reduce environmental impact and remain competitive, the pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy disciplines have had to step up to the challenge. These advanced processing methods are used to optimize metal recovery, boost throughput, improve energy efficiency recycle metals and help secure a reliable supply chain.

Pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy

  1. YOUR CHALLENGES

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      Extracting maximum value

      Making the most of your feedstock—whether it’s run-of-mine ore, concentrate, bulk metal or recycled material and scrap—requires innovation and a deep understanding of complex processes. You might need to design, build and implement a new process for a new operation while managing costs and meeting environmental regulations. Or you might need to increase efficiency, produce a higher-purity product or make your process more sustainable overall. It’s what we excel at: using our keen understanding of metallurgical transformation to find value at every stage of your process.

  2. OUR EXPERTISE

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      Innovative problem-solvers tackling your metallurgical challenges

      At BBA, our seasoned metallurgy team is renowned for tackling complex designs, from the early phases of projects through to execution. For over 40 years, we’ve been leveraging industry-leading technologies in both pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy as well as a vast knowledge of mineral and metallurgical unit operations. Our approach balances cost, efficiency and sustainability, with a strong focus on safety.

      Multidisciplinary team supporting process-driven decisions and specializing in mining and metals

      Our team includes experts across various disciplines with extensive experience in the mining and metals industry, delivering tailored metallurgical solutions:

      • Mechanical, civil and structural, piping, electrical
      • Automation and instrumentation, advanced process control
      • Layout, risk management, health and safety, estimating
      • Decarbonization, environmental and advisory services

      Custom approach: because every plant is unique

      At BBA, we understand that providing tailored, scalable and adaptable solutions are key to solving the most unique and complex problems. Our dedicated professionals are committed to delivering maximum value to your metallurgical transformation project through early planning, technical excellence and strategic implementation.

      Capabilities covering the full spectrum of expertise

      • Process design, execution and optimization, troubleshooting processes
      • Material and energy balances and resource management
      • Energy optimization
      • Emissions abatement, decarbonization considerations and environmental compliance
      • Water treatment
      • Tailings design and management
      • Metallurgical testing and analysis
      • Laboratory, pilot testing and scale-up
      • Safety and risk management
      • Operational readiness
      • Integration, secondments and onsite operations support
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      Pyrometalurgical application

      • Sonic injection: Improved operator safety and process intensification
      • Advanced combustion techniques: Energy efficiency and decreased emissions
      • Process modelling and simulation: Optimization, troubleshooting and predictive analyses
      • Energy recovery systems: Lower operational costs and carbon footprint reduction
      • Energy efficiency: Equipment and processes optimization to reduce energy consumption and operating costs
      • Advanced process control: Operator guidance strategies, stabilization of processes and consistent product quality, with maximized throughput and reduced energy consumption
      • Decarbonization: moving processes from dependence on carbon-based reductants and fuels to alternative syn-gases, electrical energy and hydrogen
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      Hydrometallurgical applications:

      • Process modelling and simulation: Optimization, troubleshooting and predictive analysis
      • Advanced process control and data analytics: Consistent product quality, maximized throughput and reduced energy consumption resolve bottlenecks and increase process efficiency
      • Leaching technologies: Efficient extraction of valuable metals from ores and concentrates using aqueous solutions, improving metal recovery rates and reducing energy consumption.
      • Solvent extraction and electrowinning: High selectivity for separating and purifying metals, leading to higher purity products and minimized impurities in the final concentrate.
      • Hydrometallurgical process optimization: Advanced process modelling and simulation for optimizing leaching, precipitation and solvent extraction, enhancing overall process efficiency and yield.
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      Mining and metal solutions to drive superior performance

      • Mineral processing: curate a clean concentrate We specialize in converting run-of-mine ore into high-quality concentrate using advanced dense media separation, flotation and thickening techniques. Our solutions ensure the highest grade and recovery, optimizing processes for efficient ore preparation and susbequent extraction.
      • Smelting and refining: achieve extraction and purification We use modern tools for process modelling, simulation and energy recovery to enhance throughput and reduce process costs, while ensuring consistent product quality and effective emissions and waste management.
      • Recycling metals processes: ensure an efficient and sustainable recovery We develop innovative process engineering solutions for recycling metal scrap and secondary materials, enhancing recovery rates and producing high-quality, market-ready products with sustainable practices.
      • Tailings and waste management: ensuring long-term stable management of process waste streams
  3. Solutions we offer
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