1. NORDMIN Brokerage Event – Project Idea Presentation
Margareta Wahlström
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

2. VTT- Technical Research Centre of Finland
Largest applied research institute in Northern Europe: ca personnel, 316 M€ turnover (2012). See:
Waste technology and hydrometallurgical group: > 20 persons involved in works related to mining operation
EU affairs and international collaboration:
EIT KIC, EIP RM, Spire, CRM Innonet (substitution of critical raw materials), ERA MIN, ERECON, international programmes
Secretariat for European standardisation work, CEN/TC 292, WG8: Waste from extractive industry
Partner in AERTO network (Value from waste)
Active participation in national strategy plans for sustainable mining industry, expert involvment/support to the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Employement and the Economy on mining issues

3. Idea 1: Clean water - Mine wastewater treatment
Background: Mine waste water contains e.g. nitrogen (from explosives/cyanide leaching) and metals. These constituents have environmental impacts and potential reuse value in the process or as products.
Idea: Novel electrochemical methods, sorption etc allow enrichment and removal of specific metals or ions using moderately low energies. This could allow for enhanced treatment while recovering resources.
Impact: Reduction of the environmental impact of mine waste water and production of side stream products and clean water.
Established consortium: Water expertise cooperation with University of Queensland, PhD candidate from VTT
Looking for partners: On mining drainage and ww management, reuse, and productization for internal or external use.
Laboratory testing
Metallien poisto materiaalista liuottamalla bakteerien avulla
Kasaliuotuksena edullinen ja helposti toteutettava, pitkä liuotusaika)
Reaktoriliuotuksena helposti hallittava, lyhyt liuotusaika, vaatii energiaa
Materiaalin ympäristökelpoisuus paranee, käyttö helpottuu
93% N-removal with 100% capture

4. Idea 2: Recovery of valuable metals and safe management of mining waste in artic areas
Background: Large amounts of metals left in tailings and deposits, varying concentrations. Techniques for metal recovery from low grade ores/tailings needed. Reduced risk for acid mine drainage
Idea: Mapping of technological solutions, safe management and recovery of valuable metals from tailings by integrated recovery concepts
Impacts: Reduction of environmental impacts, reuse of treated waste and recovery of residual metals effectively and cost-efficiently for resale
Looking for partners with knowledge in techniques for metal extraction and recovery and solutions for utilisation of residual waste
Metallien poisto materiaalista liuottamalla bakteerien avulla
Kasaliuotuksena edullinen ja helposti toteutettava, pitkä liuotusaika)
Reaktoriliuotuksena helposti hallittava, lyhyt liuotusaika, vaatii energiaa
Materiaalin ympäristökelpoisuus paranee, käyttö helpottuu
Fig. Bioleaching experiment with tailings

5. Idea 3: A product centric approach has effective impact on raw material flows and usage
Background: A product centric approach has effective impact on raw material flows and usage, driven by resource scarcity and environmental aspects. It is a solution provider for waste minimization and material substitution.
Idea: In this proposal starting from multiple raw material streams (including side streams and waste streams) lean methods together with powder metallurgical product concepts are combined with economical case studies. (Piloting through powder technological routes.)
Impacts: Beside the reduction of waste and energy consumption, the possibility of finding new solutions for substitution scarce or critical raw material is possible.
Looking for partners ex. having side or waste streams and end-users.
Fig 1. Agglomerated particles for ceramics, hard metals and composites.
Fig 2. Fused & Crushed
particles for composites.
Metallien poisto materiaalista liuottamalla bakteerien avulla
Kasaliuotuksena edullinen ja helposti toteutettava, pitkä liuotusaika)
Reaktoriliuotuksena helposti hallittava, lyhyt liuotusaika, vaatii energiaa
Materiaalin ympäristökelpoisuus paranee, käyttö helpottuu
Fig 3. Gas atomized particles for metal alloys and further consolidated into composites.

6. Examples of VTT projects on mine water, hydroprocessing, mine closure
Arsenic removal from mine waste water: laboratory validation
Nitrogen removal methods from mine waste waters: a comprehensive study of options
Treatment of acidic mine waters using sulphate reducing bacteria
Water treatment, membrane technologies
Bioprocessing of materials/wastewaters, biosorption
Bioleaching/hydrometallurgy as a treatment technology for metal containing low grade ores, tailings, waste (electronics)
Leaching and recovery of REEs, e.g. liquid-liquid extraction
Hydrometallurgy development, e.g. leaching of gold using alternative methods
Electronics waste, WEEE processing
Stability of residues
Sustainability and LCA
Mining closure guidelines
Measurement and control; mineral processing, water
Utilisation of mine waste
Safe management and characterisation of mine waste

7. Contacts:
Waste/water management: Margareta Wahlström, tel ,
Hydrometallurgical processes: Päivi Kinnunen, tel ,
Powder metallurgy and powder technologies/a product centric approach: Päivi Kivikytö-Reponen, tel ,
Metallien poisto materiaalista liuottamalla bakteerien avulla
Kasaliuotuksena edullinen ja helposti toteutettava, pitkä liuotusaika)
Reaktoriliuotuksena helposti hallittava, lyhyt liuotusaika, vaatii energiaa
Materiaalin ympäristökelpoisuus paranee, käyttö helpottuu

8. VTT creates business from technology
Final slide is optional in VTT’s internal presentations