Electrometals Technologies Limited

Corporate Brochure

Creating Value

Enhancing Value

Reducing Technical Risk

Broadening Process Options

EMEW®World Leading Electrowinning Technology

Electrometals Technologies Limited is a world leader in the process of electrowinning – the recovery of metals from solution using electrolysis. Through technical innovation, intelligent

engineering and use of modern materials, the company has developed the EMEW® technology, a hardware system which effectively ‘turbocharges’ an age old process. The result is a dramatic improvement in efficiency, significant lowering in cost and extension of potential

uses well beyond its traditional market place.

The EMEW® technology breaks traditional barriers and opens a world of opportunities for our customers

EMEW® Creates Value

The radical improvement in efficiency made possible through the EMEW® technology now allows our customers to recover value from metals previously not recovered or disposed to waste.

The significant operating and capital cost benefits of the technology have altered the economies of scale for metal project development – creating viability where it may not have previously existed.

EMEW® Enhances Value

Electrometals and the EMEW® technology enhance value for its customers through a simple single step process for recovery of metals. In comparison with traditional methods, we offer:

Reduced capital cost of your metal recovery processReduced operating cost in a simplified flow sheetAccelerated return on capitalImproved product purity

Improve efficiency whilelowering costs

Broaden process options with EMEW®

Due to its inherent simplicity and efficiency, the EMEW® technology allows more direct and versatile options in the field of metal recovery, through:

Capability to process low metal concentration streams Higher productivity than conventional cells Efficiency over a wide range of metal concentration Higher tolerance of contaminants in solution Capability of extracting a variety of metals Capability of selective electrowinning of metals Generally higher purity product Production of either metal cathode or powder

Reduce technical risk with EMEW®

The EMEW® technology is:

Simple to operate Constructed with minimal moving parts Easy and inexpensive to maintain Modular and portable Easy to expand or relocate Does not use reagents or chemicals Delivered as a complete facility

EMEW® is Safer

During conventional electrowinning of metals (e.g. zinc, copper), oxygen bubbles are produced at the electrodes. When these bubbles reach the surface they burst, liberating an aerosol of acid called acid mist, which can affect the health of operators, the environment and plant infrastructure.

The International Agency for Research into Cancer (IARC), a respected international science group based in Europe, classified sulfuric acid mists as causing cancer in humans. Specifically, the IARC concluded, "There is sufficient evidence that occupational exposure to strong inorganic acid mists containing sulfuric acid is carcinogenic." Also, the American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has for several years listed sulfuric acid mists as a "suspected human carcinogen”.

EMEW® provides as an inherent design characteristic complete elimination of the release of acid mist into the workplace. The EMEW® technology captures ALL gases that can be generated and makes them available for collection and safe disposal or reuse. This feature of EMEW® provides significant improvements to the working environment.

The EMEW® plant is a totally enclosed solution management system in which the passage of these gases is rigidly controlled, there are no requirements for additional controls such as surfactants or foam layers.

“Increasingly workplace safety is becoming priority number one for employers around the world”

The continuous innovation and project development work carried out over a number of years has allowed Electrometals to develop highly specialised expertise in the field of electrowinning. Our technical staff are familiar with a wide range of metal recovery

techniques and problems. Through this skill base, Electrometals offers:

A free EMEW® appraisal service

Tell us your problems and we will give you a FREE desk top appraisal of the EMEW® solution that is right for you.

We also offer full laboratory and pilot plant testing to support our appraisal of your application.

1. Design of an appropriate process flow sheet 2. A review of process and economic benefits that we can offer your project 3. A detailed comparison with other technologies 4. A close estimate of EMEW® capital and operating costs

Applications

The application of the EMEW® technology has been proven over a very wide range of applications – too many to reproduce in detail in this brochure. Amongst other possible applications, you may be considering recovery of:

Silver, gold or other precious metals in a single step from cyanide leach solution High quality copper directly (without SX) from a mine leach or waste solution Metals by high current density electrowinning Nickel and/or cobalt from ore leach solutions Copper from a zinc or nickel process stream Zinc from industrial waste materials Copper, zinc or precious metal from refinery tank house bleed stream Copper from pickling solutions Base and precious metals from spent solutions from plating baths Heavy metals from waste solutions to negligible levels

We would welcome the opportunity to provide a free appraisal of your application

How EMEW® Works

Electrowinning is the process of recovering metals from solutions using electrolysis. Immerse two electrodes into a solution and pass electrical current through the circuit. The result is that metal ions migrate towards and plate onto the negative electrode (the cathode) – thereby providing an effective separation technique.

The process is widely used in the mining and refining industries for recovery and purification of metals such as copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt and precious metals. However, in general terms, its use is restricted by:

High capital cost Lack of mobility Restricted operating windows

These limitations, which can often only be overcome by economies of scale, can be traced back to the performance of the electrowinning cell itself. In conventional hardware the target solution is slowly circulated through open tanks.

Cathode (-ve) Anode (+ve)

Metal ion

CONVENTIONAL TANK CELL

Zone of depletionof metal ions

Direction oftransport of ions

When plating from the 'bath' of solution commences, the migration of ions to the cathode surface creates a 'zone of depletion' of metal in the solution close to the electrode (the ions are no longer there - they have moved to the cathode surface). This leads to the occurrence of ‘competing’ reactions at the cathode (for example reduction of hydrogen) which ‘rob’ electrical current from its primary purpose. The net result is that, unless the solution has a high concentration of the target metal, efficiency in the process will be significantly lower than is theoretically possible.

The answer to this limitation lies in the achievement of a high 'frequency' of metal ions within a specific volume of the target liquor (high concentration of the target metal) – which is often a costly process to achieve and is sometimes not practical.

The high performance of the EMEW® technology is simply achieved through a hydraulic mechanism which presents metal ions to a cathode in a far more effective and direct manner than in a conventional unit. The very high mass transport capabilities of EMEW® derive from a radical redesign of the vessel in which electrowinning is performed, and in the method of circulation of the target solution. The essential difference is that the EMEW® cell is constructed from a pair of concentric tubular, rather than planar, electrodes. The ends of the assembly are fitted with plastic end caps, forming a closed chamber through which target solution can be pumped at high rate. The resulting high flow and efficient mixing result in ‘forced’ and continual supply of metal ions to the surface of the cathode.

To find out how EMEW® can improve your bottom line contact us today

Cathode (-ve)

Direction oftransport of ions

EMEW CELL

Anode (+ve)

SolutionFlow

The EMEW® technology is patented around the world and forms the heart of modular plants designed and supplied by Electrometals Technologies Limited. The technology can be built into custom designs for specialised applications in almost any configuration. Two standard models are currently offered:

The EMEW® plating cell

Current density up to 1000 a/m2 Product is a high quality solid cathode Serial or parallel arrangements of 6” (150mm) diameter plating cells Only moving part is a process pump

The EMEW® powder cell

Current density up to 2000 a/m2 Product is an easily liberated metal powder Harvesting process totally automated Full PLC control provided Serial or parallel arrangements of 8” (200mm) diameter plating cells

The EMEW® cell resolves the problem in a very simple and effective manner

Electrometals Technologies Limited28 Commercial Drive, Ashmore, Queensland Australia 4214

Phone +61 7 5526 4663Fax +61 7 5527 0299

Email emew@electrometalsWeb www.electrometals.com.au

Countries USA Indonesia Democratic Republic of Congo Canada United Kingdom Belgium Poland Chile Brazil

South Africa Zimbabwe India Mexico Italy Peru France Switzerland Zambia

Metals Copper Silver Gold Platinum Rhodium Nickel Tin Zinc Manganese Cadmium Lead