Increase Copper Mass Transfer by 3%

Major Copper Mine in South Africa

A case study in improving solvent extraction circuit stability to increase copper mass transfer by 3%
Solvent Extraction snippet 3

Customer Challenge

Lack of Stability and Real-time Monitoring

Fluctuations in feed ore properties such as grade and metal speciation.

Stability and performance monitoring are not in real-time which causes reactive decision-making.

Limited feedback on how best to modify control variables for optimal metal mass transfer, reduced impurity transfer, and reduced organic extractant losses via physical entrainment.

How We Helped

Solvent Extraction Scientific-AI Optimization

Real-time organic flow monitoring with the Loaded Organic Flow Virtual Sensor allows operators to control SX circuits more efficiently with real-time data availability.

Monitoring and predicting changes in organic-aqueous continuity in the SX mixers.

Applying the dynamic equilibrium isotherm optimizer to the stabilized SX operation offers
recommendations.

The Outcome

3% Improved Copper Mass Transfer

Increased Copper Mass Transfer Across SX Circuit Consistently from 95% to 98%.

Improved Acid Utilization Opportunity of 2%.

>$2M additional Cu sales per year.

>$900,000 in acid cost savings per year.

Discover how Solvent Extraction Optimization can be applied to your operation

Mine to Market: Value Chain Optimization

The Stockpile & Inventory Optimization Application is one of a suite of real-time decision-making applications that uses AI to optimize each process; from mine to market.

Our Material Handling model connects these applications to drive even greater efficiency.

Our process optimization apps can be deployed on a specific process bottleneck or expanded across the entire value chain. They are powered by our Industrial AI Decision Intelligence Platform, brains.app.

Stockpile and Inventory Optimization

Stockpile & Inventory Optimization

Grinding Optimization App

Grinding Optimization

Thickener Circuit Optimization

Thickener Optimization

Flotation Circuit

Flotation Optimization

Solvent Extraction Optimization App

Solvent Extraction (SX) Optimization

Leaching Optimization App

Leaching Optimization