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Plasma Mineralogy Plasma mineralogy is a cutting-edge field within plasma science that significantly enhances the recovery rates of latent metals, especially those with concentrations as low as 3-5 grams per ton of ore. Scientific Background - APT Expert Statement Thermal plasma, with ion temperatures exceeding 4,000°C, rapidly heats treated particles, enabling several transformative processes: 1. Thermal Shock: Rapid heating induces thermal shock, breaking down bonds within complex alloys and formations, effectively disintegrating them. 2. Particle Transformation: The intense heat melts nanoparticles, promoting their growth into larger clusters. This transition allows latent metal particles to shift from sub-nano to nano- and micro-scale levels. 3. Organic and Light Component Burn-Off: Plasma burns off organics and lightweight materials, enriching the concentration of precious metals in the ore. 4. Plasma Chemistry: The plasma reacts with the ore and by-products of plasma chemical reactions. The composition of plasma gas can be tailored to the specific ore, driving complex plasma chemistry. 5. Quenching: Rapid cooling follows the plasma treatment, inducing a second thermal shock that further disintegrates complex alloys or solid solvents. When RF (radio frequency) plasma is used, the treated feedstock also experiences high-strength magnetic fields and currents. This can enhance cluster growth and promote more efficient plasma chemical reactions. APT Plasma Treatment Facility APT processes ore samples at our state-of-the-art material processing facility in Marshall, VA. Our APT-125 RF plasma system, shown in this flyer, is integrated with a plasma chemical reactor to treat materials with various plasma gases at pressures ranging from 1 to 5 bar. This setup supports computer-controlled feeding of materials with densities between 2 g/cm³ and 9 g/cm³, and offers precise temperature and pressure regulation, along with cooling and collection of treated ore. The equipment operates in both manual and automatic modes and is fully scalable. For serious mining customers with a verified ore composition, we offer a three-stage approach. The first stage involves treating small quantities of ore to evaluate the benefits of plasma processing and optimize treatment parameters if necessary. In the second stage, a pilot module operates for approximately one year to fine-tune the process. The third stage focuses on scaling up to an industrial-level plasma treatment system, utilizing the APT-240 and APT-480 high-power torch systems within a containerized package. Strategic Elements & Critical Metals Recovery: Unlocking Rare Earths and Beyond (REE) In addition to enhancing the recovery of precious and latent metals from ore, plasma mineralogy is uniquely suited for the recovery of critical and strategic elements—materials essential for advanced electronics, renewable energy technologies, and national security. These include, but are not limited to: • Gallium (Ga) – used in semiconductors, solar cells, and LEDs These elements are often found in trace quantities and complex matrices, making their extraction difficult via traditional means. Plasma mineralogy overcomes these barriers through its extreme temperature environment, aggressive plasma chemistry, and finely tunable treatment parameters. APT’s RF plasma systems can be adapted for the selective recovery of such elements from mining concentrates, industrial residues, electronic waste, and even coal fly ash. Evaluation Plans For first-time clients, APT offers two evaluation plans to demonstrate the potential for dramatically increased latent metal recovery: · Plan A: Requires only the basic ore composition. Simply send us 8 - 10 kilograms of ore, ground and sieved to an average particle size of 45-200 microns. We will return four treated powder samples for assay processing. · Plan B: Includes all the services of Plan A, plus assaying of the head ore and 2-3 treated samples with an accuracy of at least 1 ppm. This enables our specialists to select the optimal treatment mode based on advanced plasma chemistry and available processing tools. We guarantee confidentiality. For clients interested in industrial-scale ore processing, we offer the development, integration, and operation of plasma treatment units, including container packages, based on our 50 kW - 500 kW line of RF plasma torches. Depending on ore composition, recovery rates can increase by 3 to 20 times, with an estimated return on investment of 1 to 3 years. Click to learn more about our patented RF torches. © 2024 Applied Plasma Technologies, Corp. Home | About Us | Products | News | Events | Non-Profit | Contact Us | Visit Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use |