MGX produces 45.1% V2O5 from petcoke
2018-03-29 07:06 ET – News Release
Mr. Jared Lazerson reports
MGX MINERALS AND HIGHBURY ENERGY PRODUCE 45% VANADIUM CONCENTRATE FROM PETROLEUM COKE ASH
MGX Minerals Inc. has released additional assay results of petroleum coke (petcoke) samples collected from stockpiles produced from the Fort McMurray area mining and upgrading operation as well as the Edmonton refinery. Both samples originated from delayed coking operations. Samples were obtained and prepared by Highbury Energy Inc. and metal contents analyzed by Acme Labs of Vancouver, B.C., using standard inductively coupled plasma analyses.
Ash content
Ash was determined by weighing residues after burning coke samples of about 200 grams in air in a muffle oven over extended periods at 815 C. The associated table indicates the average ash content of six to seven samples of each coke.
ASH CONTENT OF COKE SAMPLES
Sample name Ash content (% wt.) No. of samples tested
Upgrader coke A 2.73 plus or minus 0.09 6
Refinery coke B 0.32 plus or minus 0.04 7
Upgrader coke A had about nine times as much ash as was in refinery coke B.
Proximate analyses
The cokes contain over 95-per-cent-organic (non-mineral) matter. Thermogravimetric analyses on 10-milligram quantities are shown in the associated table.
PROXIMATE ANALYSES OF COKE BY THE
THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYZER METHOD
Quantity (wt. %) Upgrader coke A Refinery coke B
Volatile matter 8.9 10.0
Fixed carbon 86.9 86.3
Residues 4.3 1.7
Residue refers to residual mineral matter left after the thermogravimetric test. Except for the per-cent residue, the two cokes have similar combustion properties.
Metals analysis in the coke samples
Lithium borate fusion ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) method measures 45 trace metal concentrations in the coke. Results are expressed as (milligrams/kilogram) or part-per-million weight. The associated table lists concentrations of selected metals.
SELECTED METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN COKE
(mg metal/kg coke)
Sample V Ni Cu Zr Co Au Ag
less than
Upgrader coke A 421 76.8 86.2 40.5 4.8 0.0011 0.1
less than less than
Refinery coke B 458 53.4 35.9 1.3 1.3 0.0005 0.1
Vanadium is the highest concentration of the 45 trace metals detected in the coke samples.
Ash analyses
Ash analysis was completed by Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd. of Vancouver, B.C., using XRF (X-ray fluorescence) method (XF701). Results are expressed as weight per cent in the ash as oxide. Sixteen elements as oxides and LOI (loss on ignition) are determined. The ash samples were prepared in Highbury’s laboratory and sent to BV for analysis. The maximum per cent the analysis method could accommodate was 10.0 per cent for vanadium pentoxide (V2O5); therefore ash samples were diluted by mixing with other solids. In the Highbury laboratory both Al2O3 (aluminum oxide) and Fe2O3 (iron oxide) were used.
SELECTED SPECIES IN THE ASH OF EACH COKE TYPE
Species (wt. %) Upgrader coke ash A Refinery coke ash B
Al2O3 27.7 9.8
SiO2 42.6 23.6
V2O5 6.6 45.1
Fe2O3 8.0 2.7
TiO2 5.7 0.7
K2O-MgO-CaO 4.0 6.4
LOI 0.0 4.3
Subtotal (wt.%) 90.8 92.5
For upgrader coke A, the sum of Al2O3 and SiO2 (silicon dioxide) is about 70 per cent. V2O5 is about 6.6 per cent according to the ash analyses. For refinery coke B the average per cent V2O5 in the ash is 45 per cent.
TRACE METALS CONCENTRATION IN ASH
(MG METAL/KG ASH) FOR SELECTED SPECIES
(two determinations average)
Sample V Ni Cu Zr Co Au Ag Mo
Upgrader coke ash A 34,600 740 130 1,840 230 0.02 2.5 1,405
Refinery coke ash B 193,000 177,000 340 405 620 0.02 0.175 5,000
Vanadium metal concentrations are 3.5-per-cent weight in upgrader coke ash A and 19.3-per-cent weight in refinery coke ash B, which is also enriched in nickel.
Calculated ash compositions from ICP and XRF methods can show discrepancies due to differences in analytical methods and to the dilution step as used in the present work.
Background
Petcoke is a carbon material byproduct of the oil and gas industry that forms during the oil refining process. As refineries have become more efficient at processing extra heavy crude oils (bitumen) over the last two decades, output of petcoke globally has risen significantly. Because petcoke originates from heavier petroleum fractions, its denser impurities such as metals and sulphur compounds are concentrated in it.
The majority of Canadian petcoke output occurs in close proximity to oil sand producing regions, where bitumen is upgraded into synthetic crude oil. Specifically, the province of Alberta is known to host vast stockpiles of petcoke. According to the Alberta Energy Regulator, petcoke inventories are estimated to have reached 106 million tonnes in 2016.
Alberta minable oil sands plant statistics
While concentrations of individual metals are low in raw petcoke, Highbury is utilizing its advanced knowledge of the thermochemical gasification process and existing large-scale pilot plant experience to assist MGX in designing a process to generate hydrogen gas and concentrate metals in the form of ash byproduct. Highbury has completed a phase 1 report on potential processes and markets for primary and secondary byproducts. A phase 2 study has commenced including analyses of locations, laboratory bench-top feedstock results, advanced process design and initial plant design parameters.
Qualified person
The technical portions of this press release were reviewed by Andris Kikauka, PGeo, vice-president of exploration for MGX Minerals. Mr. Kikauka is a non-independent qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 standards.
About MGX Minerals Inc.
MGX Minerals is a diversified Canadian resource company with interests in advanced material and energy assets throughout North America.
We seek Safe Harbor.
https://www.mgxminerals.com/investors/news/2018.html
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