Metso, a provider of end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries, has announced an expansion to its solvent extraction offering and has introduced the VSF X solvent extraction plant with extended scope
“Solvent extraction is a crucial step in the production of essential battery metals and is gaining wider ground in hydrometallurgy applications,” explained Olli Siltala, product manager for the VSF X solvent extraction plants at Metso. “This is driven by the growing demand for higher purity metals and the increasing use of minerals to empower the energy transition. Our customers are seeking reliable and environmentally sound production processes with lower plant life cycle costs. Metso’s VSF X solvent extraction technology meets these needs and enables an efficient and economical solvent extraction process step for various ore bodies and recycled battery black mass.”
A planet positive offering
The modular VSF X plant is part of Metso’s Planet Positive offering and allows coppers, cobalt, nickel and manganese producers to purify desired metals from a leach solution in a safe and sustainable manner. The VSF X technology can also be used in battery black mass recycling processes.
“Metso is an expert one-stop shop for solvent extraction technology,” continued Siltala. “We can provide customers with a tailor-made production process based on professional testing and piloting. The modularised plant offers excellent scalability and high quality with fluent logistics and fast-track delivery. The integrated plant consists of Metso’s highly productised proprietary equipment, like the VSF X mixer-settler, VSF X organic and crud treatment unit; Dual Media, Activated Carbon and GM filters, as well as new digital products such as DispersionSense and OA Sense topped up with process guarantees. We can also provide a broad range of services along with digital solutions to ensure optimised life-cycle performance of the plants.”
Earlier this year the company also expanded its intelligent crushing and screening offering with a new Metso Remote IC software application.