Written by: Fatima Younes
The iron and green energy giant Fortescue announced the development of an innovative new method to remove arsenic from copper concentrates, which requires significantly less energy compared to existing alternatives. This development comes at a critical time given the vital role copper will play in deploying green technologies, including renewable energy sources and electric vehicles, as well as the massive amounts of energy currently consumed for its purification. The company explained that it has already sold about forty tons of copper purified using the new water-based separation technology, which has succeeded in significantly reducing the arsenic percentage.
Details of the new hydrometallurgical processing technology
The company purchased this low-temperature and low-pressure hydrometallurgical technology in 2022 when it acquired its developer. This technique is an alternative to traditional smelting processes that use high temperatures that cause air pollution. Through expanding into the copper sector, the company aims to support its ambitious green energy goals, which include reaching total neutrality in major mining operations by 2030, as well as developing new exploration projects.
Rising global demand and operational challenges
Copper markets are witnessing significant leaps in light of the global transition from fossil fuels to electricity, driven by increased demand from data centers and renewable energy infrastructure projects. Global research institutions expect unprecedented growth in copper demand over the coming decades, which necessitates the exploitation of deposits containing a high percentage of impurities that were previously considered uneconomical. In this context, company officials indicated that these innovations will be a key factor in unlocking resources that meet this increasing demand and support the industry globally.
Testing phase and continuous development
Despite the initial success in processing trial quantities via a pilot test plant, the technology still requires further industrial scaling and development. Chemical and hydrometallurgical processing methods face challenges related to the high cost of chemical reagents and the management of wastewater contaminated with arsenic; however, research is ongoing to improve process efficiency and recycle the materials used to ensure their economic and environmental viability on a large scale.
