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HBC International, through fifteen years working with Kennecott Utah Copper (KUC) has significantly contributed to the unique combination of proactive environmental clean-up and remediation development. The implementation and maturing of this approach allowed KUC to successfully avoid Superfund listing through cost-effective and innovative management.

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PROCESS DEVELOPMENT AND OPTIMIZATION
Removal of Suspended Solids - Kennecott Utah Copper; Bingham Canyon, Utah
Investigation and evaluation of filtration processes including:
  • Cartridge Filters (Ultipleat, Nexis, Claris, etc.).
  • Bag filters (Pong, BOS, etc.).
  • Ceramic Filter, Zero Gravity Filter, Auto Puls, Pall Rigimesh Filters.
  • Delta Stack, Tilted Plate Settler.

Molecular Recognition Technology
Projects of selective recovery of copper and other metals from electrolyte and leach water. Completed in cooperation with IBC, American Fork, Utah.

Evaporation / Crystallization
Evaluation and pilot testing of selective recovery of magnesium sulfate and magnesium ammonium sulfate from leach water. Completed in cooperation with RCC (Ionics), Bellevue, WA.
Sludge Dewatering - Kennecott Utah Copper; Bingham Canyon, Utah
Investigation and evaluation of processes including:
  • Filter Press, Belt Filter, Pneuma Press, Larox Filter.
  • Alfa-Laval / Sharples Centrifuge.

Testing of other Technologies
Electrocoagualtion, capacitive deionization, biobeads, selenium remediation (with zero valent iron, ferric hydroxide co-precipitation, ferric chloride addition, ion exchange).
Production Facility Process Water Evaluation and Testing
Kennecott Utah Copper; Bingham Canyon, Utah
Concentrator
  • Evaluation of effects of humic and fulvic substances on flotation recoveries.
  • Investigation and evaluation for Pebble Crushing Project.

Copper Cementation
  • Copper recovery improvement study.

Refinery
  • Investigation of electrolyte filtration process to resolve excessive nodule formation on cathodes.

Smelter
  • Testing of alloys to withstand acidic aqueous and gaseous environments.
  • Refractory testing to evaluate various additives to achieve higher refractory strength and reduced metal penetration.
  • Chrome-magnesite refractory bricks -TCLP testing for Cr.
  • Analysis of dust from Electrostatic Precipitator.
  • Analysis of scale from Cold Gas Heat Exchanger.
  • Failure analysis of trunnion gear grease.
  • Design of slag pot cooling water filtration system.
  • Evaluation of infrastructural requirements for transportation of copper concentrate.

Hydrometallurgical Plant
  • Investigation of arsenic fixation and oxidation enhancement.
  • Evaluation of bismuth cake washing.

Tailings
  • Scale formation in the tailings pipeline: scale analysis, identification and evaluation of mechanisms of calcium sulfate scale deposits.
  • Construction of coupons to measure scale growth in the tailings pipeline, weekly monitoring and data evaluation from these coupons.
  • Evaluation of the influence of tailings pipeline pH on discharge water quality from tailings impoundment (in light of UPDES permit).
  • Production of Aerated Autoclaved Concrete from copper tailings.
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