TECHNOLOGY 

OVERVIEW

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Fancamp's Titanium technology aims to reduce feedstock loss and can effectively recover and recycle titanium metal with rejected pigment, with the advancement of six international patent applications. Fancamp is advancing its Titanium technology initiative with an opportunity to monetize and spin off, and loop in the Company's relevant properties such as those located on the North Shore area of the St. Lawrence River, Quebec.

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AGGLOMERATION 

TECHNOLOGY

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Main features are as follows: 

• 30% salt metals at most in the binder

• Technology to coat the particles with only 1% of the binder 

• Withstands temperatures up to 1600 C before loosing its properties 

Applications for the technology

• Can recover fines from the chloride process. As particles become to small as they are digested to TiCl4 they blow out to the bag house. This represents approximately 6 to 15% of the feed to the chloride process. 

• Can recover rutile fines in sands with the right chemistry for the chloride process. 

 

Fancamp has filed a patent for the process of recovery of bag house dust fines from chloride process generally used by the pigment industry worldwide. In the Western world this process represents 80% of the pigment produced. It continues to grow in total percentage due to environmental challenges associated with the sulphate process. This solution is intended to eliminate the loss of 6 to 15% of the feed to the bag house as fines.

 

UPGRADED TIO2 

FEEDSTOCK

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Main features are as follows: 

• 30% salt metals at most in the binder

• Technology to coat the particles with only 1% of the binder 

• Withstands temperatures up to 1600 C before loosing its properties 

Applications for the technology

• Can recover fines from the chloride process. As particles become to small as they are digested to TiCl4 they blow out to the bag house. This represents approximately 6 to 15% of the feed to the chloride process. 

• Can recover rutile fines in sands with the right chemistry for the chloride process. 

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Fancamp has produced an upgraded feed stock acceptable for both the main processes used for pigment production from its wholly owned Mingan project, located in Havre St Pierre region which is well known for supplying feedstock to the titanium industry. This project has a starting grade of 35% TiO2 and was successfully upgraded, without requiring melting, to over 80% TiO2 acceptable for both sulphate and chloride processes. Testing was performed in the independent laboratories of Corem in Quebec City.

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This new process allows for a product that meets the specifications of the chloride process without the need for melting and respects the rigid limitations for salt metals. This is a very compact operation that eliminates extra steps to lower the salt metals, many of the challenges associated to other processes with acid/water balances and size of plant. The chemical results of the product are as follows:

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TITANIUM 

METAL

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Fancamp has been progressing well with the development of the titanium metal in a novel way that is greener and lower cost. Main features: 

• Closed loop and recycle the ingredients back to the front end

• By product of fertilizer

• Titanium metal and its alloys 

• Titanium metal for 3 D printing uses.

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This process can convert resources or waste streams from the industry, be it off spec pigment, bag house dust fines or other items into valuable titanium metal. Test work is in advanced stages and Fancamp is evaluating options for a pilot plant and has begun discussions with potential partners. This process is a complement to industries with off spec material and waste streams like fines. Fancamp is able to convert these materials into valuable titanium metal ($30,000/metric ton) and reduce losses incurred in the production of pigments. Fancamp sees growth potential in converting titanium to meet the needs of the growing 3D printing industry.

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Selective removal of salt metals in

synthetic rutile (slag)

 

Most hard rock resources that have good grades of TiO2 amenable to upgraded TiO2 through pyro metallurgy have a problem with salt metals like MgO concentrating with the TiO2. In keeping with the theme of a complement to the existing industry, Fancamp’s new method selectively removes salt metals without leaching TiO2 and iron, thereby eliminating the need for acid regeneration. This process is very compact with a low capex, less expensive construction materials and has a significant advantage for water acid balances.

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Selective recovery of critical elements

from titanium iron rich resources

 

Fancamp has developed an efficient and cost-effective selective leach of low titanium mineral resources and focuses on critical elements such as rare earths, vanadium and scandium. This process allows the recovery of these elements without having to use up the acid on titanium and iron which drives the costs up. This process can facilitate exploitation of previously uneconomic low grade titanium mineral deposits as well as waste streams accumulated by pigment producers. The theme of a complement to the industry is re-emphasized. Many deposits around the world are not ideal for the iron and steel industry due to being contaminated with titanium and many are too low in TiO2 for the pigment industry. These resources often have interesting rare earth critical elements such as scandium and vanadium that this process helps to unlock the value of.