Developing and validating water/wastewater treatment processes and technologies, conducting applied research and providing technology pre-commercialization services
The facility works in close collaboration with mining companies, engineering firms, equipment suppliers and academia. It specializes in development, optimization and validation of water treatment technologies. This is to minimize the demand in fresh water, to reduce the environmental impact and to recover valuable components from mining streams. The research and technical support team has vast experience in technology development for improved water treatment and dealing with various contaminant removal.
Although not bound to these areas, applied research at this facility is primarily focused on advanced treatment technologies, such as pressure-driven (microfiltration/ultrafiltration/nanofiltration/reverse osmosis and vibratory shear enhanced process) and thermally-driven (vacuum membrane distillation) membrane separation, centrifugal separation (hydrocyclone), electro-technologies (electrodialysis and electrocoagulation) and ion exchange.
Small, medium, and large sized businesses are helped with their innovation needs, allowing them to become more competitive, expand their businesses, and achieve economic success as Canadian leaders in the water treatment sector. By using our services, innovative companies can move faster through the commercialization pathway and be more confident in their technology/product.
CanmetMINING provides unique expertise and a wide range of research and specialized services for its clients. The Business Office can arrange any of several forms of partnership to suit the particular needs of the client and to support Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Government of Canada priorities. Amongst the most frequently used are cooperative and cost-recovery business agreements. In addition to conducting basic and applied research, demonstrations and testing, we provide guidelines on intellectual property, licensing and marketing strategies to facilitate the transfer of technology.
- Clean technology
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Mining, minerals and metals
Specialized labs and equipment
| Specialized lab | Equipment | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Mill | Pilot scale ceramic/polymeric nanofiltration/reverse osmosis membrane system (custom made by Seprotech) | High pressure system (up to 550 psi) for desalination and removal of dissolved solid contaminants |
| Mill | Pilot scale ceramic microfiltration/ultrafiltration and polymeric nanofiltration/reverse osmosis membrane system (custom made by Seprotech) | Pressurized system (up to 400 psi) for removal of dissolved and/or suspended solids |
| Mill | Lab scale ceramic microfiltration/ultrafiltration/nanofiltration membrane system (custom made, supplied by Sterlitech) | Pressurized system (up to 150 psi) for removal of dissolved and/or suspended solids |
| Mill | Lab scale flat sheet polymeric reverse osmosis membrane system (custom made by Environment Canada) | Pressurized system for desalination and removal of dissolved solid contaminants |
| Mill | Pilot scale ceramic microfiltration/ultrafiltration membrane system (custom made by NRCan) | Low pressure membrane system for removal of oil from water |
| Mill | Pilot scale hydrocyclone system (custom made by NRCan) | Two-stage system for separation of particulates from a medium (such as water and oil) |
| Mill | Lab scale electrodialysis (ED/EDR) system (supplied by Electrocell) | Electrochemical separation process for selective ion removal/separation and waste water treatment |
| Mill | Pilot scale electrodialysis (ED/EDR) system (custom made by Inopor) | Electrochemical separation process for selective ion removal/separation and waste water treatment |
| Mill | Small pilot scale vacuum membrane distillation system (custom made by NRCan) | This system is used to produce ultra-high purity/distilled water with recovery of > 90%. The operational capacity of this system is about 10 L/h. |
| Mill | Large pilot scale vacuum membrane distillation system (custom made by KmX) | This system is used to produce ultra-high purity/distilled water with recovery of > 90%. The operational capacity of this system is about 200 L/h. |
| Mill | Laboratory cell electrocoagulation system (ECOTHOR, E2Metrix) | Enhanced floc formation and removal of organic and inorganic contaminants by floc/sludge formation including toxic heavy metals |
| Mill | Commercial scale electrocoagulation system (ECOTHOR-6R, E2Metrix) | Enhanced floc formation and removal of organic and inorganic contaminants including toxic heavy metals |
| Mill | Pilot scale vibratory shear enhanced process (VSEP) system (IP model, New Logic) | Removal of dissolved and particulate solids with vibratory enhanced shear for fouling mitigation |
Private and public sector research partners
- National Research Council Canada (NRC)
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
- Glencore Corp.
- COREM
- E2Metrix
- University of Ottawa
- Université Laval
- University of Toronto
- Concordia University
- BluMetric Environmental Inc.
- IAMGOLD Corp.
- Rauchert Inopor
- Boydel Wastewater Technologies Inc.
- Hydro Quebec