MGX Minerals and Highbury Energy Produce 45% Vanadium Concentrate from Petroleum Coke Ash
March 29 2018 - 8:30AM
InvestorsHub NewsWire
MGX Minerals and
Highbury Energy Produce 45% Vanadium Concentrate from Petroleum
Coke Ash
Vancouver, BC -- March 29,
2018 -- InvestorsHub NewsWire -- MGX Minerals Inc.
(“MGX” or the “Company”) (CSE:
XMG / FKT: 1MG /
OTCQB: MGXMF) is pleased to report 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. (“Highbury”) and metal contents analyzed by Acme Labs
of Vancouver, British Columbia using standard ICP analyses.
Ash Content
Ash was determined by weighing residues after burning coke samples
of about 200 g in air in a muffle oven over extended periods at
815°C. Table A indicates the average ash content of 6 to 7 samples
of each coke.
Table A. Ash Content of Coke
Samples
Sample
name |
Ash content (%
wt.) |
No. of samples
tested |
Upgrader Coke
A |
2.73
±0.09 |
6 |
Refinery Coke
B |
0.32
±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 % organic (non-mineral) matter.
Thermogravimetric analyses on 10 mg quantities are shown below.
Table B. Proximate Analyses of Coke by the
Thermo-gravimetric Analyser 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 thermo-gravimetric test. Except for
the % Residue, the two cokes have similar combustion
properties.
Metals Analysis in the Coke Samples
Lithium borate fusion ICP-MS method measures 45 trace metal
concentrations in the coke. Results are expressed as (mg/kg)
or ppmwt. Table C lists concentrations of selected metals.
Table C. Selected Metal Concentrations in Coke (mg Metal/kg
Coke)
Sample |
V |
Ni |
Cu |
Zr |
Co |
Au |
Ag |
Upgrader Coke
A |
421 |
76.8 |
86.2 |
40.5 |
4.8 |
0.0011 |
< 0.1 |
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. (“BV”) of Vancouver, British Columbia using XRF method
(XF701). Results are expressed as % wt. 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 % the analysis method
could accommodate was 10.0 % for V2O5;
therefore ash samples were diluted by mixing with other solids. In
the Highbury laboratory both Al2O3 and
Fe2O3 were used.
Table D. 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 +SiO2 is about 70
%. V2O5 is about 6.6%, according to the
ash analyses. For Refinery Coke B, the average %
V2O5 in the ash is 45 %.
Table E 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 |
34600 |
740 |
130 |
1840 |
230 |
0.02 |
2.5 |
1405 |
Refinery Coke Ash
B |
193000 |
177000 |
340 |
405 |
620 |
0.02 |
0.175 |
5000 |
Vanadium metal concentrations are 3.5 % wt. in Upgrader Coke Ash A,
and 19.3 % wt. 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 by-product 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(1).
(1) Source: Alberta Energy
Industry, Alberta Mineable 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 I report on
potential processes and markets for primary and secondary
byproducts. A Phase II 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 (P. Geo.), 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 Highbury Energy
Highbury Energy Inc. is an innovative energy company dedicated to
the development and utilization of renewable energy resources
through the procurement and conversion of biomass. Highbury has
developed a proprietary dual-bed steam gasification technology and
patented gas cleanup system that converts biomass into high-grade
synthesis or fuel gas. This robust process produces a medium
calorific value gas from most types of organic matter, such as wood
or agricultural wastes, without need of tonnage oxygen. The cleaned
synthesis gas can readily replace natural gas in industrial kilns
and furnaces in the mineral, pulp & paper, glass, and cement
industries. Alternately, the syngas can fuel an internal combustion
engine to make electricity, with waste heat used for refrigeration,
or district heating. Syngas can also be converted to high
value low carbon liquid fuels such as diesel or jet fuel, or into
chemicals such as methanol or ethanol.
About MGX Minerals
MGX Minerals is a diversified Canadian resource company with
interests in advanced material and energy assets throughout North
America. Learn more at www.mgxminerals.com.
Contact Information
Jared Lazerson
President and CEO
Inquiries: info@mgxminerals.com
Web: www.mgxminerals.com
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release
contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements
(collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of
applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is
typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect",
"anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "potentially" and similar
expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future
events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking
information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future
results or performance, and that actual results may differ
materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of
various factors. The reader is referred to the Company's public
filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and
their potential effects which may be accessed through the Company's
profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
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