Gravitas® Minerals is revolutionizing the chrome beneficiation industry with its innovative ‘right technology, right application’ principle. Chief Executive Tebogo Kale emphasizes the significance of this approach in developing efficient processes that align with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) sustainability goals, as well as contributing to the circular economy.
Chrome is a critical industrial metal known for its hardness and resistance to corrosion, widely used in stainless steel production, nonferrous alloys, pigments, and leather processing. The beneficiation process of chrome typically involves four stages: ore preparation, coarse chrome beneficiation, fine chrome beneficiation, and water recovery. The chrome undergoes a smelting process to produce ferrochrome. Post the smelting process, some ferrochrome is often trapped in the slag, necessitating further processing to recover this valuable material.
However, the traditional methods of chrome and ferrochrome beneficiation face significant challenges, particularly in meeting ESG requirements. High carbon footprints, extensive water usage, and chrome losses due to technological limitations and ore variability are some of the critical issues.
“Typical plants require multi-level structures, which not only demand substantial real estate but also result in higher carbon footprints due to the extensive use of steel and cement,” explains Kale. “Moreover, water is a scarce resource, and its recirculation and reuse pose significant challenges, especially with losses occurring in tailings storage facilities.”
