Low carbon concrete is one of the key uses of HRM that Zeotech is looking to manufacture in larger quantities. Pic: Getty Images.
Tech
Special Report: Zeotech will be able to scale up production of metakaolin after mining 35t of kaolin from a test pit at its Toondoon project near Mundubbera, Queensland.
The test pit, dug on the fully permitted ML 80126, was commissioned to provide additional feedstock to produce larger quantities of high reactivity metakaolin (HRM), which have been found to exceed both Australian and International standards for manufactured pozzolan used in concrete.
Raw ore from Zeotech’s (ASX:ZEO) wholly-owned Toondoon project has been found to contain a remarkable 80-90% pure kaolinite, which is well suited for the production of a high quality HRM.
HRM is in demand as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) to partially substitute clinker in Portland cement, along with potential to partially or fully replace conventional SCMs such as fly ash and blast furnace slag that are increasing in cost and are forecasted to decrease in availability.
Reducing the clinker-to-cement ratio will also lower both emissions and energy use from the production of cement.
Its manufactured zeolites, which are porous mineral frameworks composed mainly of aluminium, silicon, and oxygen, have returned promising results in recent tests.
Recent studies at Griffith University have confirmed that Zeotech’s zeolite based agri-soil product has been found to increase organic carbon protection by ~30% while reducing nutrient leaching and improving plant growth. In addition, the application of the Company’s zeoteCH4 product has the potential to be used in landfills to reduce methane emissions.
The 35t of kaolin has been transported to a processing facility in Brisbane with the remaining product stockpiled at the test pit site where it can be accessed for further development.
ZEO will process the kaolin using simple milling and classifying before bagging it for easier handling. The bagged product will then be transferred to a separate facility where it will undergo calcination to produce the targeted high reactivity metakaolin products.
This will enable ZEO to progress its discussions with cement and concrete industry participants, as well as to allow for scaling-up of manufactured zeolite production.
“We are pleased to be advancing development of a high reactivity metakaolin (HRM) with the successful completion of the test pit at the company’s Toondoon kaolin project,” chief executive officer Scott Burkhart said.
“The latest operational update follows the outcomes of recent research from Central Queensland University which highlighted the potential use-case for HRM in the manufacturing process for low-carbon cement and concrete products.
“The simple processing of the raw ore underscores the potential competitive advantage of the Toondoon kaolin.
“With the calcination process imminent, we look forward to extending our engagement with industry in the coming months, and pursuing commercial pathways that could catalyse high reactivity metakaolin production in Australia.”
This article was developed in collaboration with Zeotech, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
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