Grant: Engage Plus Grants Program

In an ongoing research, the Harrison Environmental Services Inc. company is pursuing an efficient and cost effective methodology for the extraction of precious metals and base metals from their respective ores using hydrometallurgical-based methods that are friendly to the environment. In its effort to have mining and processing protocols that diminish any negative impact to the environment, the company is striving to have methodologies in place that minimizes wastes of the used leach-solutions by seeking to recycle them. Also, the stabilization of any residues before their disposal comprises a major emphasis of the ongoing research. Such practices would go a long way protecting the environment and in particular surface waters. The NSERC Engage Plus grant will equip me, as the principal investigator, with the material and personnel needed for the ongoing project. The funding obtained from the Engage Grant for this project has gone a long way in meeting the company's goals. To completely realize the company's goals, I am proposing a 6-month plan of research. Temperature, pressure, and pH are part of the parameters that will require optimizing for leaching of the metals being sort. As well, in order to minimize wastes, optimal ratios of lixiviates that include suitable oxidizing agents will be sort. Further investigation will look at stabilizing residues from the reactions before disposal. The results obtained up to this point through NSERC Engage grant appear very promising. The technology sort by the company will improve the latter's operations in a manner that will be commercially profitable. Once in place, it is anticipated that the technology will cut production costs significantly enough for the company to run at a profit. This will allow the company to grow and enlarge its work force. The minimization of wastes for mining processes may significantly reduce health concerns for the local communities.