The nanotechnology-enabled IXOS™ bead promises to increase gold mining profits by $100/oz. according to a July 7, 2016 6th Wave Innovations news release (received by email and available on Business Wire),
-6th Wave Innovations Corp. has announced the launch of its game-changing IXOS™ nanotechnology bead for the gold mining industry. The Company estimates that its molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) ion exchange resin can increase gold mining
loading/unloading cycles), and high capacity (~30g/kg) and selectivity for gold (>95%). Moreover, the capacity and selectivity does not degrade with successive cycles. The unloading (“elution”) process is simple, straightforward and inexpensive when compared to activated carbon. The beads require no activation step for re-use. The resin is supplied ready-to-use, with a range of particle sizes available to accommodate heap leach and resin-in-leach/pulp circuits.Each patent-pending IXOS bead is imprinted at the molecular level to attract gold and ignore the other elements leached off in mining operations. Unlike conventional ion exchange resins, the IXOS resin has a long life (>50 loading/unloading cycles), and high capacity (~30g/kg) and selectivity for gold (>95%). Moreover, the capacity and selectivity does not degrade with successive cycles. The unloading (“elution”) process is simple, straightforward and inexpensive when compared to activated carbon. The beads require no activation step for re-use. The resin is supplied ready-to-use, with a range of particle sizes available to accommodate heap leach and resin-in-leach/pulp circuits.
“6th Wave’s resin technology has great potential,” said Susan Ritz, Principal Process Engineer and President of Jack Rabbit Consulting, a prominent gold mining engineering firm. “It works well under very challenging conditions and appears to be more highly selective for gold than carbon. I can see it replacing carbon as the adsorbent of choice.”
IXOS has consistently and thoroughly outperformed activated carbon and conventional ion-exchange resins in laboratory and field trials conducted over the past three years. These trials were done in partnership with some of the world’s largest gold mining companies under a wide variety of conditions, including high grade, low grade, and refractory (“preg-robbing”) ores. In the trials, IXOS also demonstrated a variety of advantages to activated carbon, including capacity, selectivity, elution time and temperature, adsorption efficiency, durability, and re-use. These advantages directly translate to lower costs and more gold recovered.
Use of IXOS also requires fewer chemicals, reduces waste, has no toxic emissions, and uses less power — making it a “greener” technology.
Dr. Jonathan Gluckman, Chairman and CEO of 6th Wave, noted that, “Working with our mining partners has allowed us to field-test the IXOS beads in harsh conditions that are impossible to synthesize. We have clearly demonstrated that the beads work consistently and predictably, and display all of the positive attributes we have seen in the lab. We are confident that IXOS will substantially increase our customers’ profitability.”
I wish there was a little more technical information about the technology and the testing but have not been able to find any additional details or any technical publications on the company website.
It can be said that there is great interesting in better recovery methods in the mining industry and 6th Wave Innovations has an interesting portfolio of products ranging from IXOS to Explosives Detection Products (in their Homeland Security category) and to Biogene Amine Detection (in their Medical Diagnostics category).
Note: This post is not an endorsement of the product or the company.
*ETA July 8, 2016 at 1215 hours: It belatedly occurred to me that I should add this from the news release,
Safe Harbor Language: This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of 6th Wave’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.