Grant: Engage Grants Program

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. Specifically, the company seeks to have a detailed scientifically based step by step approach to solving its problem. In its effort to have a protocol that diminishes any negative impact to the environment, the company is striving to have a methodology that minimizes wastes of the used leach-solutions. Any residues not needed could be stabilized enough for disposal in a manner that eliminates the tendency of toxins in such residues to leach out into the surface waters. The NSERC Engage grant will equip me, as the principal investigator, with the material and personnel needs for this project. To facilitate the process, the company has promised in-kind contributions of significant value. As the principal investigator, I am proposing a 6-month plan of how I can solve the company's problem. To facilitate this, I plan to investigate the optimum temperatures and pressures that the reactions can be carried out at. As well, in order to minimize wastes, I will seek to use optimal ratios of lixiviates that include suitable oxidizing agents. An attempt will be made to exclude cyanide and other potentially toxic reagents from the lixiviates. Further investigation will look at stabilizing residues from the reactions before disposal. The technology the company seeks to have in place for mining and processing metals is one that will improve the company's operations in a manner that will be commercially profitable. It is anticipated that the methodology to be developed will cut the production costs significantly in order to enable 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.