Day 2 at IBS 2022

MEI's Amanda reports on Day 2, 22nd November, at the International Biohydrometallurgy Symposium in Perth:

Today began with a keynote presentation from Päivi Kinnunen (VTT, Finland) entitled "Biotechnical value recovery from waste" which detailed the recent developments, opportunities and challenges in the utilization of biohydrometallurgy, alone or in combination with other technologies, for recovering value from waste. 

Päivi was followed by Jana Pinka (G.E.O.S. Ingenieurgesellschaft mBh, Germany), who presented "Recovery of valuable elements from tailings dumps accompanied by environmental remediation - the pilot plant project "ReMiningPlus"", which detailed their research into new methods of extracting zinc and indium from the Davidschact tailings in Freiberg.

Next, we had another keynote presentation, this time from Naoko Okibe (Kyushu University, Japan), on "Biotechnical mine water/process water treatment". Naoke gave an overview of how her group are working to remediate arsenic and manganese via direct or indirect microbiological reactions, as well as reusing waste materials derived from mining-related activities. 

Then Graeme Esslemont (Evolution Mining, Australia) presented, virtually, "Integrated Virtual Curtain and constructed wetland treatment of mine water at Mount Rawdon Gold Mine".

We then broke off for coffee and another chance to talk to people:

Keishi Oyama (Waseda University, Japan) and Phann Idol (Kyushu University, Japan)

Catherine Joulian and Douglas Pino Herrera, of BRGM, France

Michael Schlömann (Freiberg University, Germany)
and Naoko Okibe (Kyushu University, Japan)

After the break presentations were again streamed into parallel sessions. Session 3A was on Biomining of Wastes, Industrial Ecology and Circular Economy, whilst Session 3B was Bioleaching of Metals from Low Grade Ores and Concentrates. A tough choice today, but at least all of the presentations can be assessed online, so I can catch what I missed at another time.

We broke for lunch, and then, as we did yesterday, we had an hour and a half to view the posters, followed by a coffee break before we got back to the oral presentations.

Session 4A was on Biotechnical Treatment and Resource Recovery from Mine and Process Waters, and 4B was another session on Biomining of Wastes, Industrial Ecology and Circular Economy.

This evening, we gathered for the Gala Dinner, which took place in the hotel's Grand Ballroom. 

With Anna Kaksonen of CSIRO, the chair of the International Organising Committee

The evening began with "Roaming Reptiles", giving delegates the opportunity to come face to face with lizards and snakes!

The evening then proceeded with a buffet of delicious foods, whilst delegates' knowledge about Australia was tested with a fun quiz, thanks to quiz-meister extraordinaire, Naomi Boxall, before ending the night with a dance.