Unlock tomorrow's metals<br><b> with Glycine Leaching Technology</b>

Unlock tomorrow's metals
with Glycine Leaching Technology

Meet the world’s first truly sustainable solution to metal supply deficits

Draslovka's patented Glycine Leaching Technology (GLT) helps mines extract metals in a way that is;

more environmentally friendly,
more cost effective,
and safer.

GLT assists in extending the life of your assets, reducing cut-off grades, and enabling recovery from tailings.

Current Commercial Applications

Au Ag

GlyCat™ for precious metals

Reduces processing costs
Provides ESG benefits
Reduces NaCN consumption

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Ni Cu Co

GlyLeach™ for base metals

Improves production
Replaces harmful reagents
Unlocks new production

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Reduces processing costs

Reduces reagent consumption

Improves ESG footprint

Reduces detoxification

GLT is the most cost-effective and environmentally sustainable way to produce precious metals and critical minerals.

Glycine is a cost effective and non-toxic amino acid that is fully bio-degradable.

As an environmentally friendly and stable reagent, glycine is easily metabolized by living organisms and plants. In fact, it is used as a food additive for both humans and animals.

Glycine is unique in its ability to selectively leach certain base and precious metals. It isn’t chemically consumed, so it’s recoverable and recyclable – providing a major cost advantage.

Frequently Asked Questions

IS GLYCINE SAFE? IS IT BIO-DEGRADABLE?

Glycine is a totally non-toxic chemical that is fully bio-degradable. It is used as a feed supplement in animals and is even used therapeutically to reduce inflammation in humans.

IS GLYCINE READILY AVAILABLE?

Glycine is a readily available chemical that is manufactured in large quantities in the USA, Germany, Japan, China, and India. It is manufactured by combining chloroacetic acid and ammonia and is mainly used in producing herbicides, food supplements, and nutrients. Prices vary between manufacturers, but it is generally cheaper than cyanide and readily available from a variety of manufacturers.

WHAT MINERALS CAN GLYCINE LEACH?

Glycine can leach most of the nonferrous transition base metals, specifically copper, but also nickel, cobalt and zinc. It is also capable of leaching precious metals under certain conditions - gold, silver, some of the platinum group metals, and finally lead under special circumstances. Various minerals leach at varying speeds and different chemical conditions. As an example, all copper minerals except silicates and copper that is chemically bound within iron oxides are leached by glycine. Leaching takes place at pH values between approximately 8 and 12.5, with the higher pH values being used to leach the sulphides and in particular chalcopyrite. This supplies the base needed to fix the Fe that is leached from this mineral. In contrast to acid leaching, Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg and many other elements are simply not put into solution. There is no soluble unfixed Fe to deal with, or difficult solids like jarosite to dispose of.

WHY IS GLYCINE SUCH A LOW COST METHOD?

Glycine leaching is low cost because the main reagent, Glycine, is chemically regenerated. Glycine is reacted with a solution of sodium hydroxide to provide sodium glycinate as the major reagent. This has a natural pH value of around 11 to 12. For example, when the copper mineral malachite is put into solution, the released copper is chelated onto the glycine, with each copper molecule sequestering 2 molecules of glycine. This releases Sodium (Na) from the glycine that is then paired with the carbonate ion and hydroxide ions from the malachite. Glycine is completely regenerated when the stripped solution is reacted with lime or calcium hydroxide. This precipitates all of the carbonate and sulphate (from the oxidation of sulphides), and regenerates the caustic which then pairs with the glycine again. Thus it is in a locked cycle, not being consumed. The loss is limited to the glycine that is not physically recovered from the tailings and this will be low.

What’s the minimum ore grade to economically recover metals with GLT?

As a rule of thumb, if it is economical to recover precious and base metals using traditiona leaching methods, then it will most likely also be economical for GLT. However, we could potentially lower the head grade compared to cyanidation because the GlyCat^™ requires less reagent and incurs lower costs compared to cyanidation, even factoring in the cost of glycine. This is particularly true with ores that contain copper, where considerably more cyanide is needed to leach the gold. In this case, the cyanide savings are significant.

Is there any impact on other processes like flotation?

The short answer is no. Glycine is added to the process water, so if it is used in flotation then it will be present during flotation. Our tests have demonstrated that glycine will improve the selectivity and “floatability” of metal sulfides where metal selectivity is achieved through pH. We have observed the use of glycine to clean the sulfide surface to improve flotation.

Glycine Leaching Technology - News

News GLT 02/29/2024

Draslovka and Barrick Gold commence commercial use of Glycine Leaching Technology for gold mining

At Bulyanhulu Gold Mine, the GlyCat pilot programme has led to an 80% reduction in cyanide consumption while achieving gold recoveries that are comparable to traditional cyanidation.

News GLT 11/15/2023

Draslovka announces GlyLeach partnership with Jubilee Metals

The partnership with Jubilee Metals, a major company in the tailings recovery space, highlights the significant potential for Draslovka’s leaching products to be used for mining waste management.

News GLT 08/29/2023

First global commercial heap leach use of GlyCat Process

The recent heap leach trial demonstrated higher recoveries than conventional cyanidation, with 78% overall gold recovery. This was achieved with a 65% reduction in cyanide and high recyclability of the glycine. Overall, due to high cyanide unit costs, the total reagent costs are projected to be reduced by over 70%.

News GLT 03/06/2023

Barrick Gold to roll out Draslovka’s Glycine leaching technology worldwide

The implementation of Draslovka’s technology can potentially unlock substantive savings and generate value for Barrick’s operations while improving their environmental footprint. GlyCat will enable a major shift for the mining industry’s sustainability profile by substantive replacement of cyanide used in processing of gold ores with a non-toxic, food-grade reagent that is recyclable.

News GLT 02/25/2023

Bloomberg: Draslovka Bets on ESG-Friendly Mining Shift

“The glycine method is a game-changer,” said Bruzek. “It will help businesses boost their top line and their bottom line, while also ticking all the ESG boxes.”

News GLT 01/19/2023

Draslovka’s breakthrough glycine leaching technology is selected as part of tailings reduction initiative with Rio Tinto, OZ Minerals and Boliden

Cutting-edge glycine leaching technology has been selected to be part of the OZ Minerals’ Think & Act Differently (“TAD”) incubator and their Waste-to-Value Challenge. The Challenge sees Rio Tinto and Boliden working in collaboration with OZ Minerals to eliminate, minimise, reuse, or find new value in mine tailings and ultimately reduce the global carbon footprint of the mining industry.

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Unlock tomorrow's metals with Glycine Leaching Technology