Two flotation cell innovators are the latest sponsors of Flotation '25

We are pleased to welcome two flotation cell innovators, Jord International and the Beijing General Research Institute for Mining & Metallurgy (BGRIMM) Technology Group, as the latest sponsors of Flotation '25. Both organisations, leaders in advanced flotation cell design, are supporting an MEI Conference for the first time.

BGRIMM: Driving Innovation in Large-Scale Flotation

BGRIMM, a leading Chinese state-owned enterprise, is renowned for its expertise in mining, metallurgy, and advanced materials. A global pioneer in flotation technology, the company is instrumental in developing large-scale, energy-efficient flotation equipment and novel reprocessing solutions.

With over 30,000 flotation cells installed worldwide, and a commanding 85% share of the Chinese market, BGRIMM’s technologies are utilised in major mining operations across South Africa, Peru, Canada, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The company’s Machinery & Automation Technology division offers a wide portfolio of flotation machines, including mechanical agitation, forced-air, and self-aspirated cells. Among its flagship developments is the KYF-680 flotation cell, one of the largest in the world, with a capacity of 680 m³. It has been successfully deployed at the Dexing Copper Mine in China to enhance tailings reprocessing.

At Flotation '25, BGRIMM will present its work on the 800 m³ Super-large Flotation Machine, the world’s largest flotation cell, installed at the Pulang Copper Mine, one of China’s most advanced underground mining operations.

Jord and NovaCell^TM: Redefining Coarse and Fine Particle Flotation

The NovaCell^TM developed by Professor Graeme Jameson, is licensed to Jord, a privately owned, international company that designs and delivers custom process equipment and systems globally.

NovaCell^TM technology is engineered to improve coarse and fine particle flotation, offering benefits such as reduced energy use, higher recovery rates, and a smaller environmental footprint. Jord supports its application through pilot-scale testing, process design, and full-scale plant installation.

NovaCell^TM has already demonstrated success in operational environments. At the Pinto Valley Mine in Arizona, USA, trials showed substantially improved copper recovery, particularly in coarse particle fractions, compared to conventional mechanical cells. Pilot and lab tests have also been conducted across mines in Chile, Peru, Canada, India and Australia.

A paper at Flotation '25 will show how a NovaCell^TM pilot plant performed at Capstone Copper’s Mantos Blancos site in Chile, where it was used to process rougher tailings. The results are now shaping discussions around full-scale application. While industrial scale installations are still emerging, the positive outcomes from these trials suggest that NovaCell^TM is gaining traction within the mining industry.

We are delighted to welcome BGRIMM and Jord International to the growing list of sponsors supporting Flotation '25. Their contributions reflect the evolving landscape of flotation technology and the drive towards more efficient, large-scale mineral processing solutions.

#Flotation25 

MEI's Critical Minerals '26: Addressing the Real Challenges in Processing and Recycling

Critical minerals are natural resources essential to modern economies and national security. They are vital in advanced technologies, clean energy solutions, and defence applications, but are increasingly vulnerable to supply disruptions. Replacing them is often difficult or impossible without compromising performance.

Currently, many conferences are being held on the topic of critical minerals, often focusing on geopolitical dynamics and supply chain vulnerabilities. However, MEI’s Critical Minerals ’26 stands out for its emphasis on processing and the unique challenges of recycling end-of-life products such as smartphones and other waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

While one could argue that nearly all minerals are becoming "critical," the most frequently cited include:

• Lithium – Crucial for batteries in electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
• Cobalt – Key component in battery technology and superalloys.
• Rare Earth Elements (REEs) – Used in electronics, wind turbines, and military systems.
• Nickel – Vital in stainless steel production and battery manufacturing.
• Graphite – Used in battery anodes and lubricants.
• Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) – Found in catalytic converters and fuel cells.

The processing and recycling of critical minerals present numerous complex technical and economic challenges. Many of these processes are energy- and water-intensive, an issue in regions where such resources are scarce or unsustainable. Critical minerals, such as rare earths, are typically found in low concentrations, and their separation requires energy-intensive, chemically harsh techniques. For example, China dominates the global rare earth processing market but also generates significant toxic and radioactive waste as a byproduct (posting of 11th February 2013).

The Circular Economy is often described as the "holy grail" of sustainable resource use, achievable only through the effective recycling of end-of-life products. Yet, critical minerals are often used in small quantities, dispersed across complex products, making recovery technically difficult and economically unfeasible. Infrastructure gaps further hinder progress; many countries lack adequate facilities for collecting, sorting, and processing these materials from discarded electronics.

Consider the smartphone: each device contains over 30 critical elements, most in trace amounts, yet each essential to its function. With more than 1.5 billion smartphones produced annually, the demand for these materials, and the volume of e-waste, continues to rise. Every year, thousands of tonnes of cobalt, gold, lithium, and rare earth elements are embedded in these devices.

Indium is a notable example. Used in touchscreens (as indium tin oxide), a typical smartphone contains only about 0.02 grams. However, total usage amounts to 100-200 tonnes annually across smartphones and computer/TV monitors. As indium is primarily recovered as a byproduct of zinc mining, scaling up supply in response to demand is difficult. Moreover, known reserves are projected to last only a few more years.

To meet global net-zero targets, the production of critical minerals must increase dramatically. The table below illustrates a sobering reality: at current extraction rates, we lack the physical supply to produce even one generation of renewable energy infrastructure, let alone maintain a sustainable cycle every 20 years, which is the typical lifespan of such technology.

For instance: a full transition away from internal combustion engines would require a massive increase in lithium supply. Achieving net zero would demand a 190-year supply of copper at current production rates.

Critical Minerals ’26, the 2nd in the MEI series (see reports on Critical Minerals '24) will spotlight innovative processing technologies and flowsheets for recovering critical minerals from both primary and secondary sources. Special attention will be given to the recycling of materials from WEEE and lithium-ion batteries, the most complex and pressing challenges in realising a true circular economy.

An early sponsor for Critical Minerals 26 is Promet101, and media partners are International Mining and Minerals Engineering. CEEC: Coalition for Minerals Efficiency is an industry advocate. 

Why not make the most of November next year, and spend a week at Cape Town's Vineyard Hotel with Process Mineralogy '26 immediately preceding Critical Minerals '26?

Sundowner at Critical Minerals '24

#CriticalMinerals26

Announcement: Flotation '25 Hits Abstract Limit Early

Over the past 30 years, MEI Conferences have steadily grown and evolved, building a strong portfolio of six internationally recognised events. 

Among them our flagship series, Comminution and Flotation, continue to expand, both in size and global participation.

Flotation '23 marked a milestone as the largest MEI event to date and Comminution '25 surpassed expectations with a record number of exhibiting companies.

Now, five months ahead of Flotation '25, we are seeing unprecedented engagement. Abstract submissions surged ahead of the May 31st deadline, and we now have over 200 presentations provisionally scheduled for oral and poster sessions, a record volume for this four-day event.

As a result, we’ve made, for the first time in our history, the decision to pause presentation submissions. Any new submissions will be added to a waiting list in case space becomes available. 

With such a packed programme, we anticipate a full and vibrant conference in November. Delegates can also take advantage of the satellite room, where all presentations will be streamed, allowing attendees to move freely without disrupting sessions.

The satellite room at Flotation '23

We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be our most dynamic Flotation event yet.

#Flotation25

Memories of two Falmouth conferences: 20 years ago this month

Twenty years ago this month two MEI Conferences were held back to back at the Falmouth Beach Resort Hotel in Cornwall.

Processing and Disposal of Minerals Industry Wastes '05 was held from June 13-15, 2005 and was sponsored by Larox.

Attended by around 50 delegates from 24 countries, the 44 presentations were supplemented by social events, including an evening walk on the Falmouth coastal path and a visit to the historic Camborne-Reduth mining area.

Some of the photos taken during the three days are shown below:

Immediately following PDMIW '05, was a 2-day conference, Processing of Industrial Minerals '05. This was also sponsored by Larox, and also NavBharati Chemicals, World Cement and Industrial Minerals. 

Delegates from 16 countries representing the USA, South America, Europe, Australia, northern and southern Africa, gave presentations on processes and technologies involving among others feldspar, heavy mineral sands, kaolin, marble stone, talc, calcite, carbonate, olivine and a variety of iron ores.

A few photos are shown below:

Unlocking Efficiency: Why Process Mineralogy is Key to Successful Mineral Processing

Process mineralogy plays a pivotal role in modern mineral processing by offering deep insights into the mineralogical characteristics of ores. This includes detailed information on mineral composition, grain size, texture, and the associations between valuable and gangue minerals. Such knowledge is essential for optimising each stage of the beneficiation process, from crushing and grinding to separation and refining, ensuring that chosen methods are both technically sound and economically viable. By aligning processing strategies with the intrinsic properties of the ore, operators can achieve higher recovery rates, reduce energy consumption, minimise waste, and improve overall plant performance.

As an interdisciplinary field bridging geology and metallurgy, process mineralogy involves comprehensive ore characterisation using advanced techniques such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and automated mineral analysis systems. These tools reveal not only the types and proportions of minerals present but also their liberation characteristics, grain size distributions, intergrowth textures, and associations with deleterious elements. This level of detail is critical for selecting and fine-tuning processes such as comminution, flotation, and leaching. For example, understanding whether valuable minerals are finely disseminated or locked within complex textures helps determine the optimal grind size and separation strategy. Process mineralogy also supports metallurgical troubleshooting, ore variability analysis, and the prediction of processing outcomes, ultimately reducing operational risks and enhancing resource efficiency and profitability.

MEI’s Process Mineralogy Conferences serve as a cornerstone for the global mineral processing community. Since 2012, these biennial events have provided a dedicated platform for professionals, researchers, and academics to exchange ideas and explore the latest advances in process mineralogy. The most recent event, Process Mineralogy '24, was held in Cape Town, South Africa, from November 11-13, 2024.

Organised in consultation with Professor Megan Becker (University of Cape Town) and advised by Professor Alan Butcher (Chief Scientist & Technical Director, Hafren Scientific Group, UK), these conferences attract a global audience. Topics typically covered include quantitative mineralogy using X-ray and electron beam techniques, geometallurgy, ore characterisation, mineral liberation and textural analysis, on-site applications, sampling and statistics, and advanced process control.

The next conference in the series, Process Mineralogy '26, will return to Cape Town from November 16-18, 2026 (note: not in Sitges, Spain, as initially announced). 

The event will continue to focus on the core themes that define this dynamic field, maintaining its reputation as a leading forum for knowledge exchange and collaboration. Early sponsorship has already been confirmed by Promet101, with media support from International Mining and Minerals Engineering. The website is open for abstract submission and to reserve exhibition space.

A full report on Process Mineralogy '24 is available via this thread and selected photos from the event, held at the Vineyard Hotel, are shown below.

Process Mineralogy '26 will immediately precede Critical Minerals '26 at the same venue.

#ProcessMineralogy26