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Research and technology in the platinum group metals sector is mainly focused on developing and producing new functional materials for high-tech advanced products in the electronics, chemicals and automotive industries.
The South African institution Mintek is the main body involved in the development of new technologies for the platinum group industry. Mintek plays an important role in developing both extraction and new applications technologies for PGMs.
According to Mintek, the aero-engine and power generation industries are potentially the single largest near-term application. Due to the high cost of R&D, Mintek has started different cooperation projects with two main programmes:
- the development of a new class of ultra-high temperature
alloys based primarily on platinum;
- the introduction of platinum and other PGMs into de "fourth generation"
nickel-base superalloys.
Recent research in the autocatalysts sector has also shown that platinum may be used to meet emission limits at similar loadings than palladium, what could affect palladium demand. In Europe learn burn gasoline engine technology for passenger cars is being developed.
Current technology and engineering can only replace palladium with platinum in autocatalysts. In other applications, research is focusing in palladium substitution by cheaper metals, such as nickel in multi-layer ceramic capacitors.
Since the extraction and production of platinum group metals is a quite complex process, there is a wide scope for research and technology advances in this field. The efficiency of PGMs extraction is low and any improvement in efficiency would end up with significant gains. New technologies are continuously developed to reduce operating costs and increase efficiency in metals recovery.
In order to increase extraction and recovery efficiencies some South African mines are using drill-rigs, enabling the operator to drill several holes at once. Moreover, the use of low-cost, open pit mining is becoming more usual. Developments in processing technology have allowed for better recoveries from near surface. Research and technology are also focusing on the mechanization of mining methods and on non-explosive mining technology.
New technologies developed by Mintek include the modified matte-smelting process employing reduced conditions for smelting with high levels of chromite. This process would allow for higher recoveries during flotation. Moreover an alternative process to treat refinery residues has been identified. There are also new processes trying to separate the PGMs from the base metals as early as possible as well as the FloatStar flotation level controller for process control and optimization.
In the Russian Federation, particularly in Norilsk Nickel, a range of programmes of modernization and new technologies were introduced in 1997-98 in order to rationalize production processes. However, there is still an important technical outdatedness of the company resources and equipment. The metals production processes lag behind those used by other companies. The level of automation and mechanization is lower. Production costs at Norilsk Nickel are higher in terms of energy and materials, requiring also a greater labour imput. Moreover, environmental impact is higher than elsewhere in the world.
In April 1999 Norilsk Nickel launched a ten-year Development
Plan to achieve an optimum development of the company's mining and metallurgical
operations and production infrastructure. The objective was to close
unprofitable production units and reduce costs. This program was seen
as necessary to simply maintain the existing production levels. The
evolution of the plan includes new flotation cells at the Talnakh concentrator
allowing for a higher proportion of ores mined at Talnakh to be treated
locally instead of sent to the older plant at Norislk. This would improve
recoveries. Research and development work for Norilsk Nickel is carried
out at the Gipronickel Intitute of St. Petersburg: http://www.nickel.spb.ru.(in
russian only).
