Organosolv lignin hydrophobic nanoparticles as lowcarbonfootprint biodegradable flotation

Organosolv lignin hydrophobic nanoparticles as low-carbon-footprint biodegradable flotation collectors – LIGNOFLOT 2019 -05 -01 -2022 -04 -30 Project coordinator Programdag 2019 Ulrika Rova, Biochemical Process Engineering, Luleå Tekniska Universitet Partners Paul Christakopolous, Leonidas Matsakas, Kateřina Hrůzová, LTU Anders Sand, Boliden Henrik Nordberg, Nouryon Ann-Britt Edfast, Sveaskog

Aim and objectives Demonstrate a sustainable flotation process with low-carbon-footprint for selective extraction of base metals using biodegradable lignin Provide a cost-competitive flotation concept that can generate additional income for the Swedish forest and mining industry by increasing the economic and environmental impact on the overall production chain. • Well characterized lignin to be used as collectors • Established separation process for selective extraction of base metals • Determine the efficiency of lignin as flotation collectors on various ores and correlation of their efficiency on specific metals with the chemical characteristics of the lignin • Optimized flotation process - pilot scale test and evaluation towards TRL 7 • Scale-up potentials of the process including environmental assessment of the process

Concept WP 2 (M 1 -12) Production of lignin collectors from softwood and hardwood WP 3 (M 4 -18) Preparation of lignin collectors with different physicochemical and structural properties WP 4 (M 13 -33) Flotation of valuable minerals from industrially relevant ores and optimization of flotation parameters at 1 -3 L WP 5 (M 31 -35) Scale-up potential of the new flotation process examined by performing flotations at 30 L at chosen conditions WP 6 (M 31 -36) Technical, environmental and economic assessment of the lignin based collectors

Results so far WP 2 Lignin collectors obtained from birch and spruce (pine pending) Partially characterisation (NMR, molecular weight, composition) WP 3 Lab-scale production of lignin collectors Identified process conditions to control collector size Improvement of the process to increase productivity

Coming activities • Lignin collectors from WP 3 will be tested as metal collectors using ores with various targeted metals. Optimization of flotation parameters at 1 -3 L • Toxicity tests of the lignin collectors • Perform surface characterization on the lignin collectors as well as the properties of the foam produced • The potentials of scaling-up the flotation will be examined by performing selected flotations at a 30 L flotation cell