Summary
- FYI Resources (ASX:FYI) has successfully concluded detailed HPA production trial via its pilot plant facility in Welshpool.
- The initial observations of the pilot plant trial were very favourable, with HPA trial material indicating superior quality end product.
- The trial surpassed expectations in terms of pilot plant’s operational efficiency.
- The trial appears to meet the higher end of FYI’s projected internal quality measures on initial examination, in terms of the end product.
- FYI will now submit samples of the HPA product from the trial to EAG Laboratories for high degree GDMS analysis.
- The Company is expected to continue with the metallurgical test work to further improve and refine the HPA process design.
Mineral explorer FYI Resources Ltd (ASX:FYI) has successfully concluded detailed high purity alumina (HPA) production trial via its pilot plant facility in Welshpool, WA. FYI commenced a detailed product and process flowsheet trial with its wholly owned pilot plant earlier this month to investigate the enhanced HPA production.
Notably, the initial observations of the pilot plant trial were very favourable, with HPA trial material indicating superior quality end product. The trial also surpassed expectations in terms of pilot plant’s operational efficiency. Moreover, in terms of the end product, the trial appears to meet the higher end of FYI’s projected internal quality measures on initial examination.
FYI also noted additional enhancements to flowsheet, materials handling and construction in the HPA trial for potential economic and technical improvements to process flowsheet.
Trial’s Objective Appears Validated
As per FYI, the pilot plant trial’s objective of HPA product improvement seems validated after these promising observations.
The goals of this HPA trial were:
- to manufacture a stipulated end product specifically tailored to the requirements of targeted potential customers, and
- to incorporate many formerly noted process design modifications into the production flowsheet.
Ultimately, the Company’s aim is to align its product to the specifications of specific end-users in both the battery directed and LED markets. Purity is a fundamental criterion to the HPA product requirement from a consumer perspective. However, there are also other critical selection criteria that comprise crystal surface area, crystal sizing, and specific gravity ranges, in addition to some remaining deleterious material tolerances.
The Company will now submit samples of the HPA product from the pilot plant trial to the US-based EAG Laboratories for high degree Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry (GDMS) analysis. The samples will be analysed for independent, ultra-precise, confirmation of HPA grades.
HPA Trial Improves on Previous Pilot Plant Trial Results
FYI’s pilot plant results to date have been facilitating persistent improvements to its engineering and process flowsheet. Backed by these results, the Company is enhancing the efficiencies of the HPA refining process inducing possible opex and capex savings. These savings strengthen the overall economic case delineated in the definitive feasibility study.
To recall, FYI reported very encouraging results from the first phase pilot plant trial. The findings provided a sound interpretation of locked cycle, batch, and variability testing for inclusion into the construction and design of the continuous pilot plant.
Th ensuing pilot plant runs increased the understanding of several unit processes, mass balances, recycle streams, and the materials of construction. In the latest pilot trial production run, the Company witnessed that an overall improvement in the process and potential enhancement to project economics is feasible.
Going forth, FYI is expected to continue with the metallurgical test work to further improve and refine the HPA process design. The metallurgical test work is likely to determine aluminium leach and precipitation characteristics of kaolin from the Cadoux project.
FYI shares traded at $0.15 on 27 October 2020.
