Vanadium

Vanadium

ANZAPLAN is well equipped to develop flowsheet and process design following different processing routes for vanadium bearing minerals including e.g. vanadium mica. Evaluation of numerous processing routes for the conversion of vanadium minerals to e.g. high purity vanadium pentoxide can be performed at various scales. Specific processing unit operations include comminution, sensor-based sorting, flotation, dry or wet magnetic separation, roasting, leaching, solvent extraction, precipitation and crystallization.

Services

Main analytical services for vanadium include:

  • Identification of trace elements by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP) using matrix adjusted calibration 
  • Identification of ionic species by ion chromatography (IC)
  • Identification of main elements by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) 
  • Identification and quantification (Rietveld refinement) of vanadium mineral phases by X-ray diffraction (XRD)
  • Particle size distribution (PSD)
  • Mineral liberation analysis (MLA)
  • Determination of specific surface area (BET)
  • Optical analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

Physical processing will include the development of a flowsheet targeting the concentration of vanadium bearing minerals.

Main physical processing steps applied:

  • Crushing, grinding and classification of ROM
  • Sensor based sorting (SBS)
  • Heavy liquid separation (HLS)
  • Attrition scrubbing and desliming
  • Magnetic separation 
  • Flotation 

Hydrometallurgical processing will include the development of a flowsheet targeting e.g. high purity vanadium pentoxide.

Main hydrometallurgical processing steps applied:

  • Roasting
  • Leaching (e.g. atmospheric or pressurized leach)
  • Purification
  • Solvent extraction
  • Precipitation (e.g. ion exchange)
  • Crystallization
     

Advanced processing services include:

  • Flowsheet optimization 
  • Locked cycle tests (LCT)
  • Variability testing

Physical processing will include the concentration of vanadium bearing minerals at pilot scale.

Main physical processing steps applied:

  • Crushing, grinding and classification of ROM
  • Sensor based sorting (SBS)
  • Dense media separation (DMS)
  • Attrition scrubbing and desliming
  • Magnetic separation 
  • Flotation

Hydrometallurgical processing will include the production of e.g. high purity vanadium pentoxide.at pilot scale.

Main hydrometallurgical processing steps applied:

  • Roasting
  • Leaching (e.g. atmospheric or pressurized leach)
  • Purification
  • Solvent extraction
  • Precipitation (e.g. ion exchange)
  • Crystallization

Engineering services typically include:

  • Process design and flowsheet development
  • Mass balance, energy and chemicals requirements
  • Confirmation of flowsheet through pilot plant testing program
  • Capital and operating cost estimates (CAPEX/OPEX)
  • Economic assessments including potential by-product scenarios.
  • Scoping, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies
  • Process plant revamping and plant audits
  • Optimization and trade-off studies 
  • Waste management

The ANZAPLAN team offers independent review of technical studies including:

  • Preliminary economic assessment, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies
  • Design verification at various scale
  • Pilot Plant design
  • Troubleshooting
  • Geometallurgical report
  • Periodic operation monitoring

ANZAPLAN and Micon International has formed a joint venture called M.Plan International to provide consulting and testwork services for seamless development in specialty mineral and metal projects from grassroots exploration through to feasibility studies:

  • Exploration program advice 
  • Site visits
  • Mineral resource/reserve estimation
  • Verification of drilling and QA/QC protocols
  • Audit and review
  • Mine planning
  • Preparation of technical report based on international codes e.g. JORC, NI 43-101
  • Project valuation and studies (PEA, PFS and FS Level)
  • Independent Engineer