Queensland Pacific Metals Ltd (ASX:QPM) has reached a milestone for its TECH Project with lab-scale test-work producing 4N (99.996%) high purity alumina (HPA) using New Caledonian ore.
The tests were conducted by project partner Lava Blue from aluminium hydroxide feedstock produced by QPM during the pilot stage of its trademarked process on New Caledonian ore.
Successful HPA production gives QPM the confidence to continue on its path towards a definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the TECH Project.
Lava Blue milestone
This represents the first major milestone in QPM’s working relationship with Lava Blue following execution of the HPA licence heads of agreement, signed in December of last year, which governs the use of QPM’s proprietary HPA technology.
“We have now successfully produced the four key materials from New Caledonian laterite ore – nickel, cobalt, hematite and HPA,” QPM managing director Dr Stephen Grocott said. “Maximising the underlying value of the feedstock ore is a key focus and in line with our goal of being a global leader in sustainability.”
“We are delighted with the progress Lava Blue has made to date and are excited at the long-term future of our partnership.”
New partnership
One of the key early workstreams in this partnership was the successful production of HPA from QPM’s aluminium hydroxide feedstock – this success will generate momentum for the next phase of the test-work.
The company now plans to sign up new partners, finalising the appointment of Stantec (TSX:STN) (formerly known as Engenium), Lava Blue’s preferred engineering consultant, to undertake the HPA refinery section of the project’s DFS in collaboration with Hatch (QPM’s engineering partner).
Pilot plant
QPM’s pilot plant operation produced intermediate aluminium hydroxide from New Caledonian ore. Previous test-work undertaken by QPM was successful in producing high purity aluminium chloride, the final precursor to HPA.
Aluminium chloride produced by QPM was sent to Lava Blue for test-work at its Queensland University of Technology (QUT) laboratory.
High purity
Lava Blue was charged with two tasks – confirming that 4N HPA could successfully be produced from QPM’s aluminium chloride precursor by assaying impurities and producing 4N HPA from the aluminium chloride.
Lava Blue’s test-work confirmed that QPM’s aluminium chloride was very pure. From the assay results of QPM’s aluminium chloride, Lava Blue projected HPA purity to be in the range of 99.995 – 99.998%, giving it confidence to proceed with the second part of the work program.
HPA success
To produce HPA, the aluminium chloride samples were calcined to around 800°C in batches to yield transitional alumina. The samples yielded from this process were then combined and homogenised.
The next step was to take the homogenised transitional alumina and convert it to a final HPA product by a second heating stage to above 1150°C.
Assaying this final product in the QUT HPA laboratory resulted in a purity of 99.996%, in line with Lava Blue’s projections.
QPM’s next priority is to prepare for further test-work, including piloting at Lava Blue’s demonstration plant, which is nearing completion, and to commission feasibility study activities on HPA.