Our research team, SIMMET, made a strong impression at the Hydrometallurgical Conference 2024, held from September 1-3 at Hazendal Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa. This prestigious event brought together experts in the field, providing an excellent platform for us to share our cutting-edge research and also learn from the work of others.
Oral Presentations
Our team delivered five impactful oral presentations:
1. Leaching of metals from printed circuit boards by carboxylic acid-based deep eutectic solvents – E.A. Oke and H. Potgieter presented innovative methods for metal recovery from electronic waste using environmentally friendly solvents.
2. Investigating the leach kinetics of Glencore’s Cu-Co ore in organic media– F. Mondlane, K.J. Nyembwe, and J.H. Potgieter explored the leaching dynamics of copper-cobalt ore, contributing valuable insights into the hydrometallurgical processes.
3. Tantalum and tin extraction from virgin ore with ILs and DESs– C. Nsakabwebwe and J.H. Potgieter discussed the potential of ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents in the extraction of valuable metals from primary resources.
4. Simultaneous leaching of vanadium, titanium, and iron using salt roast process and novel deep eutectic solvents from titanomagnetite vanadium ore – D. Nkhoesa, J.H. Potgieter, and E.A. Oke introduced new methods for the recovery of critical metals from complex ores.
5. Extraction of iron, titanium, and vanadium from a titanoferrous ore with beta-diketones– N. Mbhamali and J.H. Potgieter highlighted the use of beta-diketones in metal extraction, offering an alternative to conventional hydrometallurgical processes.
Poster Presentations
We also showcased our research through three posters:
1. Gas phase extraction of vanadium from ore– J.H. Potgieter and L. Mokwena explored innovative gas-phase methods for vanadium recovery.
2. Kinetic study of tantalum extraction using beta-diketones– L. Chuma, S. Babaee, Y. Isa, and J.H. Potgieter presented a detailed kinetic analysis of tantalum extraction, contributing to the optimization of this process.
3. Cyanide destruction in gold mining effluents through a photocatalysis process– P. Pilane, D. Ashiegbu, and J.H. Potgieter demonstrated an advanced method for reducing the environmental impact of gold mining effluents.
The conference was an enriching experience, with our team not only contributing significantly to the discussions but also gaining valuable insights from other presenters. We are proud of our contributions and look forward to implementing the knowledge gained in our ongoing research.