According to Everell, recent government policy has called for greater use of science and technology to enhance industrial competitiveness and spur economic development.
CANMET, the main research arm of the department of Energy, Mines and Resources, sponsors cost-shared research and development to enhance the competitiveness of the Canadian mineral, metal and energy industries.
The goal of its research activities is to transfer technology to strengthen the private sector’s competitive position in the international market place.
During 1987-88, CANMET scientists made several contributions to industry, Everell says. Among these was a process to recover silver from zinc leach residues.
Most zinc concentrates contain quantities of silver, but additional silver can be found in stockpiled residues. The loss of silver in these residues costs the Canadian zinc industry an estimated $10 million each year.
CANMET, through contracts with Noranda Inc. (TSE) of Pointe Claire, Que., developed a viable flotation process to remove silver from the neutral leach residues generated during zinc processing.
If the findings of initial tests are realized on a plant scale, additional annual silver recoveries of about $7.5 million could be gained by the industry, CANMET says.
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