PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed ChemX Materials on Thursday announced plans to build a A$2.9-million high purity alumina (HPA) pilot plant in Western Australia, after a prefeasibility study (PFS) confirmed the viability of the company’s proprietary HiPurA technology.
The PFS was based on a 50 t/y pilot plant, and using data obtained from the ChemX’s successful HPA micro-plant commissioning phase and subsequent operation, the PFS incorporated several work streams and equipment modifications which have led to the design of an appropriately sized pilot plant.
The aims of the HiPurA HPA pilot plant are to optimise operating conditions to reduce the scale-up risks associated with a commercial plant, produce the larger quantities of HPA needed for the final stages of qualification, and continue with development of additional materials that the HiPurA technology could produce.
“The PFS has verified the HiPurA technology and our approach, with validation of flow sheet design and no fatal flaws identified. The lessons learnt, and those that will be learned, from continued operation of the micro-plant will significantly reduce the scale-up risks of developing the pilot and commercial plants,” said CEO Peter Lee.
MD David Leavy added that the company had secured a suitable industrial premises, that would accommodate both micro and pilot plants, from September 2022.
“We look forward to moving into our new facility, and the construction and operation of the HiPurA HPA pilot plant in Perth, Western Australia. ChemX is committed to the continued development and optimisation of the HiPurA technology, as well as the production of HPA to allow for customer testing and qualification.”