The innovation, which is in the white phase, will make it possible to transfer information and obtain results in real time in the leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning processes.
Sierra Gorda, February 6, 2024 - Handheld is the name of the latest technology device that the Mining Resources and Development Management of the Gabriela Mistral Division, in its constant search for continuous improvement, implemented in order to maintain and even improve the quality of its copper cathodes, which are already world class.
The main advantage of the Handheld is that it allows instant digitalization of all manual controls performed in the leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning processes, the main stages of copper production in hydrometallurgical plants, as is the case of Gabriela Mistral. In this way, it is expected to determine operational variables such as temperature, flows, short circuits, among others, that affect the process and thus manage them before harvesting the cathodes.
This will highlight opportunities for improvement in copper quality, while facilitating the creation of a robust data base that will allow the implementation of advanced analytics.
"Given the demands of our customers, we have the responsibility to seek and adopt technologies that allow us to maintain our prestige in the markets where our cathodes are sold, and it is also a way to ensure our divisional commitment to quality and quantity," explained Susanna Vergara, senior plant planning and marketing engineer of the Plant Planning Superintendence.
This device will also optimize time, both for field workers and for users who need the information online, since it used to take a day to transfer information and obtain results, and with this new platform the data will be available in real time.
"The purpose of digitizing processes and records will allow us to improve the traceability of copper cathodes from the time they are weighed at the plant until they are shipped to port," said Rolando Jofré, CTO of Antara Minning, the company with which we collaborated on this initiative.
Currently, the Handheld is in white run and field tests are being carried out in the electrowinning (EW) plant, to later implement it in the solvent extraction (SX) and leaching processes.
