Australian Vanadium (ASX:AVL) Achieves Vanadium Leach Extraction Up To 95.5pc

• Australian Vanadium (AVL) has announced bench-scale pelletising, roasting and leaching test work has achieved vanadium extraction of up to 95.5 per cent
• This work is aimed at delivering an improved extraction process similar to kiln processing
• A two-tonne sample of vanadium concentrate is currently in transit to Metso Minerals Industrial’s facility in Pennsylvania
• Metso’s Grate Kiln is an energy efficient and low risk technology for pelletising iron concentrates
• Ultimately, this will benefit the company’s processing techniques at its vanadium project near Meekatharra
• AVL is up a healthy 13.6 per cent and shares are trading at 1.3 cents each

Australian Vanadium (AVL) has announced bench-scale pelletising, roasting and leaching test work has achieved vanadium leach extraction of up to 95.5 per cent.

Test work completed last year indicated that a pelletised roast and water leach of the company’s vanadium-rich concentrate can deliver an improved vanadium extraction similar to traditional rotary kiln processing.

Results showed vanadium roast leach was as high as 95.5 per cent, varying between 86.9 per cent at low roast temperature and 95.5 per cent under optimised temperatures.

The particle size needed for pelletisation was confirmed to be similar to the particle size of the final concentrate generated in the crushing, milling and beneficiation (CMB) pilot.

Roughly 587 kilograms of concentrate was tested to define the pellet performance, vanadium extraction, reagent usage and operating conditions for the Grate Kiln pilot testing.

This pilot testing will commence shortly with Metso Minerals Industries in the United States.

AVL is aiming to develop a processing flowsheet with the world’s highest primary vanadium recovery from vanadiferous titanomagnetite (VTM).

“Our vanadium ore is very well suited to the traditional salt-roast methods, but we see opportunity in our test work for processing improvements that could lead us to a world leading position when in production,” Managing Director Vincent Algar said.

Metso’s Grate Kiln technology is energy and cost efficient, flexible and produces superior iron ore pellets.

In November last year, Metso announced committing to a 25 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. It will do this by investing in renewable energy and improving the energy efficiency of the production processes.

Mr Algar describes it as an “innovation that our highly technical team has pursued as a result of the diligent test work they are undertaking.”

“Improving the economics of our project is the company’s key driver as we take each step forward,” he continued.

Currently, a two tonne sample of vanadium concentrate produced from CMB pilot test work is in transit to Metso at its Pyro Technology lab in Pennsylvania.

Completion of this test work is expected to deliver certainty in forecasting full scale Grate Kiln performance and in the estimated of associated capital and operating costs for the Definitive Feasibility Study.

Ultimately, this will benefit the company’s processing techniques at its Australian Vanadium project near Meekatharra in Western Australia.

AVL is up a healthy 13.6 per cent and shares are trading at 1.3 cents each just after midday trade.

www.themarketherald.com.au