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Sulphuric Acid on the WebTM Technical Manual DKL Engineering, Inc.

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Sulphuric Acid on the Web

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Sulphuric Acid - NEWS

 

Updated March 7, 2024

 

 

2024


Chinese group buys Tsumeb smelter for N$931m from Dundee
Alleima launches new super-duplex tube for acids
 
France offers loan to New Caledonia nickel firm Prony to avert collapse

Kazakh-Italian Roundtable Concludes with $1.5 Billion in Signed Deals
First Quantum to halt Ravensthorpe nickel mine
The World-Class Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex Partners With Elessent Clean Technologies for MECS® Sulfuric Acid Plant

CRU acquires leading fertilizer and chemical industry publications from BCInsight 

New burners to fuel India’s sulphur demand 


2020   2021   2022   2023

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Chinese group buys Tsumeb smelter for N$931m from Dundee


March 7, 2024 - Dundee Precious Metals sold the Tsumeb Smelter to Sinomine Resources Group’s subsidiary for US$49 million.  The company announced Thursday that it had sold the smelter, including all associated assets and liabilities, by disposing of all the issued and outstanding shares it indirectly holds in Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb Holding.  Sinomine Resources Group is a Chinese company founded in 1999 and has developed into a global mining group with a comprehensive resource industrial chain.  The company’s main business and operation cover four segments: EV-lithium material development and utilization, rare & light mineral (caesium & rubidium) development and application, geo-tech services & mining property development.  Sinomine’s business covers more than 40 countries worldwide, including Canada, the US, the UK, Norway, Zambia, Congo (DRC), Zimbabwe, Uganda, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other regions in Asia, Africa, Europe, America, and Oceania.  Dundee Precious Metals will transfer all assets and liabilities associated with the Tsumeb smelter to Sinomine debt-free and cash-free, subject to normal working capital adjustments. Dundee has also made limited representations and warranties and provided certain indemnities to Sinomine customary with transactions of this nature, subject to a liability cap equal to 50% of the purchase price. The cash received by Dundee Precious Metals on the closing of the deal will be less than a US$5 million holdback to be held in escrow for six months to secure the company’s indemnity obligations under the agreement.  In addition, Dundee Precious Metals is entitled to be paid all cash collected from IXM SA concerning a positive balance in metals exposure outstanding at Tsumeb, estimated to be approximately US$17.2 million, which will constitute an increase in the purchase price.  The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval under the Namibia Competition Act and approvals required from Chinese regulatory authorities for overseas investments.  It is expected to close in Q3 2024.  Dundee Precious Metals expects to use the proceeds from the transaction to strengthen its balance sheet further and support its core mining business in line with its disciplined capital allocation framework.  David Rae, Dundee Precious Metals President and CEO, said the sale of the Tsumeb smelter is consistent with their strategic objective of focusing on gold mining assets and simplifying our portfolio in the future.  “We are extremely proud of the investments that we have made to transform Tsumeb’s operational and environmental performance into a specialized custom smelter with a highly skilled workforce,” Rae said.  He thanked Namibia’s government, the Tsumeb community and our employees for their support over the past 13 years.  “We will work closely with Sinomine to ensure a smooth transition to support a successful future for the operation and its stakeholders,” Rae said.  Dundee Precios Metals acquired the smelter in 2010 to secure a processing outlet for the complex concentrate produced by the Company’s Chelopech mine in Bulgaria.  With developments in the global smelting market and changes in the quality of the Chelopech concentrate, Dundee Precious Metals can place its Chelopech concentrate at several other third-party facilities, providing secure and reliable processing alternatives at favourable terms.  Cutfield Freeman & Co. Ltd. acted as DPM’s financial adviser in the transaction.

Alleima launches new super-duplex tube for acids
 

March 4, 2024 - Alleima, a global manufacturer of high value-added products in advanced stainless steels and special alloys, has introduced new advanced super-duplex tube tailored for acids.  SAF 3006 is a high-alloy duplex stainless steel tailored to enhance corrosion resistance in acidic and caustic environments. The new alloy, an upgrade to traditional super-duplex stainless steels, adds to the company’s growing duplex portfolio. The main application is heat exchangers in the chemical and petrochemicals industries.  “We’re thrilled to welcome this new super duplex to our expanding duplex family. It provides that ‘missing duplex tool’ for customers battling acids in heat exchangers, giving them that extra edge. With the addition of SAF 3006 (UNS S83071), we strengthen our presence in duplex materials tailored for acidic corrosion, where we see strong growth potential. Applications may include caustic evaporators, acid coolers and evaporators,” says Eduardo Perea, Market & Product Manager EMEA at Alleima Tube Division. Alleima pioneered the ‘duplex revolution’ of the 1960s and 1970s, introducing a cost-efficient stainless-steel alternative to more expensive nickel alloy grades. The company continues to innovate in this area. Duplex grades, with a 50-50 austenitic-ferritic structure, offer more than twice the strength of standard stainless steels and superior corrosion resistance.  The groundbreaking SAF 2507 (UNS S32750), introduced by Alleima almost four decades ago in 1985, set the industry standard for combatting wet corrosion in a diverse range of industrial applications. Renowned for its exceptional performance in corrosive conditions, SAF 2507 offers excellent resistance to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in chloride-bearing environments, as well as to pitting and crevice corrosion.  “SAF 3006 will complement SAF 2507 in dealing with corrosive conditions in heat exchanger tubing exposed to hydrochloric, sulphuric, formic or other acids. This is our super duplex tailored to resist acids,” says Perea.  “From an R&D perspective, this new super duplex reflects a sharper focus on optimizing the material for acid corrosion resistance. Previously, most of our duplexes were developed with chloride resistance as the main focus, with high PRE levels to resist pitting and crevice corrosion. Resistance to acidic conditions was less prioritized. Now, we have fine-tuned the chemical composition to resist acidic environments better. This involves a high chromium content of 30 % and a molybdenum level of 3.2 % to maintain good structural stability and balancing of the alloying elements,” says Daniel Gullberg, Manager of Product Development CRA. “SAF 3006 is an upgrade over existing duplex grades facing higher-than-desired corrosion rates and where extended equipment lifetime is wanted. You get all the benefits of traditional duplex steel in terms of strength, lighter weight and cost-efficiency, but tailored to resist acids. It can be used in acid production plants with or without seawater cooling,” says Oscar Öhlin, R&D Engineer at Alleima.  SAF 3006 will be produced in Alleima’s fully integrated value chain, from R&D to end product, with tight quality control and a strong focus on sustainable production. The tube is based on more than 80 % recycled steel and melted and produced using a high degree of fossil-free energy sources. Seamless tube and pipe in SAF 3006 will be supplied in standard heat exchanger dimensions.  “The introduction of SAF 3006 marks the ongoing evolution of the duplex revolution Alleima started decades ago – now tailored for acidic conditions in heat exchangers. We look forward to collaborating with customers to advance their needs,” concludes Tom Eriksson, Executive Vice President and Head of R&D at Alleima. 

France offers loan to New Caledonia nickel firm Prony to avert collapse

 

February 15, 2024 - France has agreed to provide a 140 million euro ($150 million) loan to Prony Resources to avert the collapse of the New Caledonian nickel producer as Paris pursues negotiations to salvage the Pacific territory’s loss-making nickel industry.  Prony Resources is one of three nickel processors in the French territory of New Caledonia that face insolvency as high costs and political tensions have hit profitability while rising Indonesian supply has dented international prices.  The French government has approved the loan in addition to 40 million euros in annual energy subsidies for Prony proposed in a wider package for the industry that Paris aims to sign off this month, Sonia Backes, president of New Caledonia’s southern province, said on Thursday.  “This loan will give us time to find a buyer,” Backes told local broadcaster La 1ere Nouvelle Caledonie, adding the funds should allow Prony Resources to continue operating until 2026.  Prony Resources spokesperson Adelie Garaud Ballande said negotations were still underway on the terms and conditions of the loan.  “At this stage, nothing has been signed and sealed,” she said via email. “The amount of the emergency loan to be granted by the State will give us time to make every effort to attract an investor.”  France’s finance ministry said the proposed loan was subject to an overall agreement being reached on the New Caledonian industry.  The southern province where Prony’s operations are based is one of several shareholders in the company. Commodity merchant Trafigura also has a 19% stake.  Rothschild & Co has been mandated to find a new investor for Prony, Backes said. A spokesperson for Rothschild did not immediately respond to a request for comment.  Paris had offered similar aid to Koniambo Nickel SAS (KNS) but its co-owner Glencore said the support was insufficient, announcing this week it was halting output at KNS’ processing plant for six months while it sought a buyer for its stake.  New Caledonia’s third nickel processor is SLN, in which French miner Eramet has a majority stake. Eramet has said it will not provide further funding to cover losses at the business.



Kazakh-Italian Roundtable Concludes with $1.5 Billion in Signed Deals

January 19, 2024 – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed Italian business people at the Kazakh-Italian roundtable in Rome on Jan. 18, witnessing the signing of four strategic documents, reported the Akorda press service.  The roundtable gathered top management from nearly 30 Italian companies.  Kazakhstan’s Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund and Balestra signed an agreement defining the terms of the implementation of a project to build a sulfuric acid plant in the Suzak district in the Turkistan Region. The capacity of the plant, which will supply sulfuric acid to the companies of the Kazatomprom national company, will be 800,000 tons per year.  https://astanatimes.com


First Quantum to halt Ravensthorpe nickel mine

January 15, 2024 - First Quantum Minerals (FQM) will reduce its operating activities at Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation (RNO) with suspension of mining operations at the Shoemaker Levy ore body and bypassing the high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) circuit.   Existing ore stockpiles will continue to be processed through the Atmospheric Leach circuit providing significant mining and processing cost reductions.  This new operating model represents a three-year plan under which RNO will maintain production of nickel concentrate from ore stockpiles before recommencing mining activities at Hale Bopp and Halley’s ore bodies. The three-year plan represents the anticipated period for weaker nickel prices.  The decision results from the significant downturn in the nickel price experienced during 2023, combined with currently higher operating costs in Western Australia, and a requirement to improve the financial viability of RNO at current nickel prices.  The cessation of mining and associated processing activities at RNO will reduce the company’s directly employed workforce at the site by approximately 30%, with contractors to be redeployed by their employers.   RNO General Manager Scott Whitehead said reducing the mine’s operating activities for a sustained period was the best decision for the company, workforce and local region.  “Transitioning to a new operating model will allow us to continue to produce and export our nickel product, which is a critical mineral and has a lower carbon footprint than other suppliers.  The operational changes will ensure RNO remains viable longer term and we will retain most of our residential and FIFO workforce, thereby supporting the communities of Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe and providing income for the region and Western Australia,” Mr. Whitehead said.  “It’s important we position ourselves to respond in a timely manner to future improvements in the nickel price by being able to reactivate our mining activities at the preferred time.”  RNO will remain a significant local nickel concentrate exporter, expecting to produce on average approximately 16,000 contained tonnes per annum over the next three years. RNO produces an ESG-focused, compliant battery grade nickel which is in the lowest quartile of CO2 emissions globally and will be increasingly critical to industries and consumers in the United States and European Union as part of the transition to a decarbonized economy. 

The World-Class Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex Partners With Elessent Clean Technologies for MECS
® Sulfuric Acid Plant

January 9, 2024 - The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex (Kamoa-Kakula), a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining Group and the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has partnered with Elessent Clean Technologies (Elessent) to install a new 2,500 metric tonne per day (MTPD) smelter off-gas MECS® sulfuric acid plant. In conjunction with global EPC partner, China Nerin Engineering Co. Ltd. (NERIN), the new acid plant will be part of a new 500,000-tonnes-per-annum direct-to-blister flash copper smelter that is under construction at Kamoa-Kakula, as part of its Phase 3 expansion. Upon completion of the Phase 3 expansion, Kamoa-Kakula is projected to be the fourth largest copper operation globally. “At Kamoa-Kakula we aim to set a new industry standard by being the greenest major copper mine in the world. It helps that DRC not only has an incredible mineral endowment, but also has an abundance of clean hydroelectricity to power its mining industry. However, we also need the right technology to extract the copper in a sustainable way. By using the MECS® acid plant design and its incorporated technologies, our new plant helps achieve our path to net zero,” said David Mitchell, Kamoa-Kakula’s Senior Project Manager for the smelter project.  The MECS® sulfuric acid process incorporates state-of-the-art technologies, such as the MECS® pre-conversion technology and the MECS® DynaWave® gas cleaning technology. DynaWave® scrubbers, the gold standard in gas cleaning applications, clean and condition the upstream off gas of the smelting furnace at the sulfuric acid plant. The MECS® pre-conversion technology is a novel approach for processing off-gas streams with elevated sulfur-dioxide concentrations while consuming significantly less power.  “Kamoa-Kakula is one of the world’s fastest-growing major copper operations. Partnering with NERIN on the mine’s greenfield smelter complex is very exciting. It is a great honor to work with the owners of what is anticipated to be one of the greenest major copper operations on the planet,” said Eli Ben-Shoshan, CEO, Elessent Clean Technologies.  For decades, copper has been essential in industries like civil and building construction, machinery, and power transmission. Recently, however, copper demand has seen a steady increase due to its position as a critical metal in the energy transition, which includes electric vehicle (EV) technology. In fact, copper is one of the most vital metals in the energy transition and the shift to EVs. Copper is essential throughout the entire EV value chain, including use in everything from EV manufacturing to charging stations and supporting infrastructure. Because of the metal’s high durability, high conductivity, and efficiency, it has become indispensable to the industry.  The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex has been in commercial operations since July 2021. The operation is currently undergoing its Phase 3 expansion, which will increase copper production to over 600,000 tons of copper per year from Q3 2024.

CRU acquires leading fertilizer and chemical industry publications from BCInsight 

January 4, 2024 - Today, CRU, the global commodities experts, announces it has acquired a portfolio of leading fertilizer and chemical industry publications from BCInsight.  The strategic acquisition will reunite the Fertilizer International, Nitrogen+Syngas and Sulphur publications, with their sister conferences owned by CRU.  These will be combined as part of CRU’s new Communities business unit which will seek to strengthen engagement and facilitate knowledge-sharing and networking across the fertilizer and wider chemicals industries.  Nicola Coslett, CEO of CRU Communities at CRU said, “I am delighted to bring these publications back into the CRU family and to welcome Lisa and her team to CRU.  This acquisition aligns perfectly with our mission to provide comprehensive and valuable resources to the global fertilizer community. We have worked as partners for many years, and I am confident that, together, we will create an even more vibrant and dynamic community that fosters innovation and collaboration opportunities to our clients who are at the centre of our fertilizer and chemicals communities.”  Chris Lawson Head of Fertilizers at CRU, said “Expanding technical expertise alongside our unrivalled team of dedicated and highly experienced analysts will enhance CRU’s ability to deliver even more comprehensive and insightful information to our clients. With so many new entrants into the ammonia, phosphate and fertilizer industries, the need for technical knowledge and insights has never been more important.”  Lisa Connock, Director and Technical Editor at BCInsight, concluded, “After working closely with Nicola and CRU for so many years, it was clear CRU Communities would be a great home for our publications.  CRU’s fertilizer and related conferences have long been recognised as premier events in the sector, attracting industry leaders, experts, and key stakeholders from around the world. I am incredibly proud of the community we have built, and I look forward to serving our customers with an even stronger offering as we embark on a new phase of growth together.”  The magazines will continue to operate under their existing names, maintaining the commitment to delivering high-quality technical content and meaningful market insights to readers. The acquisition will allow the magazines to leverage CRU’s extensive data and thought leadership to further enhance reach and influence, across the whole fertilizer industry.
 

New burners to fuel India’s sulphur demand 

January 4, 2024 - India's consumption of sulphur is expected to rise in 2024, supported by new sulphur burners that will reduce the country's reliance on imports of sulphuric acid.  New sulphur burning capacity on the east coast of India is expected to lift the country's sulphur demand, with fertilizer producer Coromandel's Visakhapatnam (Vizag) burner already operational since 25 September 2023. Fertilizer producer Iffco's sulphur burner at Paradip is also expected to come on line in the first quarter of 2024. The two burners will add 400,000 t/yr of sulphur demand and produce 1.2mn t/yr of sulphuric acid when fully operational, according to Argus calculations.  Rising sulphur demand is displacing some sulphuric acid imports. India's imports of sulphur during January-September 2023 rose by 10pc from a year earlier to 1.15mn t, GTT data show, with the bulk coming from the UAE. A total of 106,800t arrived from Russia, an all-time high for India. But sulphuric acid imports during the same period fell by 3pc with fewer arrivals from China and the Philippines. Deliveries from China fell by 67pc to 127,400t, while imports from the Philippines slipped by 28pc to 109,700t.  Supply choices are ample for sulphur buyers in India, as most consumers are also able to import from non-mainstream Middle East destinations that produce relatively lower priced crushed lump sulphur compared with their granular counterparts. High domestic availability, on the back of elevated operating rates across most Indian refineries for most of 2023, may also cater to some of the new sulphur demand.  Firm demand for transportation fuels lifted crude throughput levels at refiners during April-June 2023 with strong economic growth and a late start to monsoon rains. Crude throughput at state-controlled refiner Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) rose to a record high of 435,000 b/d during the period, up by 12pc from 387,000 b/d a year earlier after its refineries operated at 106pc of capacity. Crude throughput from fellow state-controlled refiner IOC was 1.45mn b/d during April-October 2023, exceeding its initial target of 1.42mn b/d.  Planned refinery capacity expansions from 2024 will also result in more domestic production of sulphur. HPCL is planning to expand the capacity of its Vizag refinery from 166,000 b/d to 270,000 b/d.  Argus forecasts India's total sulphur demand to rise to 3.5mn t in 2024, up by 9pc from 3.2mn t in 2023. While domestic refineries are likely to cater to this new demand, prices of sulphur relative to sulphuric acid and fertilizer prices will remain a key deciding factor for demand in 2024.  www.argusmedia.com