Clean Technology
In 2001, the CSIRO conducted an (unpublished) study comparing halide hydrometallurgy (the Intec Process) against smelting, pressure oxidation (POx) and bacterial leaching (Biox) copper processing.
These processes were modelled at 50,000tpa scale, using a variety of sources of contemporaneous electricity sources (black coal, brown, and natural gas). Renewables weren’t included in the study, as they were at the time not yet common.
The processes were modelled from the mill output (copper concentrate) through to metal. Two variations of concentrate were then modelled: conventional 25% smelter-grade copper concentrate, and 15% low grade concentrate.
Two primary factors were modelled: the Global Warming Potential (kg CO2 equivalent / kg Cu); and Acidification Potential (kg SO2 equivalent / kg Cu). It is important to consider both factors in copper processing, because smelting gets much of its energy by burning sulphur. From a carbon footprint perspective, it gets a very substantial ‘cheat’, because it produces vast amounts of acid-rain potential emissions instead of equivalent carbon emissions.
With clean, renewable power and leveraging the full advantages of the Halion Loop™, halide hydromet offers the lowest carbon footprint of any copper processing technology globally.
Natural Gas
Cleaner energy: Advantage halide
The CSIRO model showed that the carbon footprint of halide hydrometallurgy produced very similar carbon emissions to smelting when using natural gas-based electricity and much lower carbon emissions than either pressure or bacterial leaching.
However, the acidification potential of smelting was nearly triple that of all other technologies.
Lower Grade Con
Halide processing offers carbon savings
The CSIRO model showed that as the concentrate grade comes down, the advantages of halide hydrometallurgy are extended.