oxidising agent, so only small volumes –substantially less than the volume needed when using pyrolusite – is required,” he said. This translated into substantial cost savings in transport for mines. Hydrogen peroxide decomposes into water and oxygen, leaving no environmentally harmful residues. Meanwhile, through its partnership with Hypex Bio, BME has also introduced hydrogen peroxide-based emulsions as a substitute to nitrate-based emulsions for blasting, reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by 90%. He added that hydrogen peroxide-based emulsions were also more energy efficient to manufacture, reducing the carbon footprint of the mining supply chain. Another notable BME initiative entails recycling waste oil, a significant environmental pollutant, into a sustainable energy fuel source within its explosives. Acid mist abatement “We have also tested a safer surfactant for acid mist abatement in base metals electrowinning circuits, with the solution already demonstrating significant commercial potential,” said Verwey. He highlighted that efficiency improvements across the transport logistics value chain could further reduce the impact of mining chemicals on the environment. In one related instance, BME Metallurgy is working with mines to find optimal ways of managing the environmentally responsible disposal of packaging. This issue remains a large problem, he said, especially for remote mines who must incur high costs in transporting empty containers over long distances to the closest licensed off-site landfills or incinerators. “A possible solution is to establish infrastructure on mine sites to support the procurement of chemicals in bulk or to recycle the packaging into a saleable product,” he said, adding that this required a major shift in the way mines procure chemicals and operate. Bulk liquids Meanwhile, BME Metallurgy is also working towards finding better ways of transporting bulk liquids to remote sites, considering that bulk tankers often have to return empty – an inefficient process that contributes to CO 2 emissions. He said moving forward, circularity would become even more important to the mining industry, driving demand for BME Metallurgy’s tailored “green” chemical solutions. “Water recycling and reuse is a higher priority than recovering reagents, especially for mines located in water- stressed areas such as South Africa,” he said. “This is compounded by the high capital and operational costs for the advanced treatment of large complex contaminated water.” Verwey said that nanofiltration technology has also proven to be a very effective way of recovering, purifying and recycling water. “The process provides high water recovery rates, is more energy efficient than some other treatment methods and does not require chemical reagents,” he said. He concluded by noting that through continued innovation in the safe and environmentally friendly responsible use and handling of chemicals, BME Metallurgy is helping mines align with global goals for a resilient future. This is in line with Omnia’s purpose of ‘Innovating to enhance life, together creating a greener future’. n
Green hydrometallurgy and nanofiltration technologies enable mines to recycle and reuse water, reducing environmental impact in water-stressed regions.
Digital innovation and chemical circularity are transforming mineral processing, cutting emissions and supporting a low-carbon mining value chain.
BME Metallurgy warehouse facility.
February 2026 | www.modernminingmagazine.co.za MODERN MINING 53
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