SERVICES

IONTECH SERVICES

We support a project across its whole life — metallurgical testwork and analytical services in our own laboratory, the process and engineering definition that turns results into a design, and the procurement, construction, commissioning and operator training that put the plant into production.

3
service lines
2
laboratories
FEED
to handover
ISO
certified
FROM LABORATORY TESTING TO A COMMISSIONED PLANT

Research and Development

Comprehensive metallurgical testing, analytical services and process development — from first bench-scale test programme to a proven process route.

01
Metallurgical Testing
Hydrometallurgical process evaluation through laboratory and pilot scale test programs
6 areas
Leaching Testwork

Extensive leaching investigations to evaluate metal recovery performance under different process conditions, including atmospheric agitation, pressure oxidation and heap leaching simulations.

  • Atmospheric agitation leaching
  • Pressure oxidation testing
  • Heap leach simulation
  • Acid soluble copper determination
  • Gross and net acid consumption determination
  • Acid cure testing
Equipment used
Agitated containers · bottle roll apparatus · pressure reactor · small and tall leach columns
Solid–Liquid Separation

Solid–liquid separation studies to assess slurry settling behaviour and clarification efficiency under varying operating conditions.

  • Settling rate determination
  • Sludge Volume Index (SVI) and Settleable Solids Volume (SSV) determination
  • Flocculant screening
Equipment used
Measuring cylinders · sedimentation (Imhoff) cones
Precipitation and Neutralization

Precipitation testwork carried out to evaluate contaminant removal, solution purification and neutralization efficiency.

  • Metals precipitation and removal
  • Sulfate removal
  • Acid neutralization
  • Cementation testing
Equipment used
Agitated containers
Solvent Extraction (SX)

Solvent extraction testing to support SX circuit development, optimization and operational troubleshooting.

  • Extraction, wash and strip performance testing
  • Maximum copper loading determination
  • Extractant concentration determination
  • Phase disengagement time measurement
Equipment used
Separatory funnels · dedicated SX test apparatus
Ion Exchange (IX)

Ion exchange studies conducted to evaluate resin performance and optimize metal recovery processes.

  • Resin loading, regeneration and rinsing tests
  • Breakthrough testing
  • Operating exchange capacity determination
Equipment used
Ion exchange columns
Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) Assessment

Environmental characterization focused on acid generation potential and the long-term environmental behaviour of mineralized materials and mine residues.

  • Field Leach Test (FLT)
  • Acid-Base Accounting (ABA)
  • Paste pH measurement
  • Net Acid Generation (NAG) testing
02
Analytical Services
Instrumental and wet chemistry techniques for liquid sample analysis
5 areas
ICP-OES Analysis

Multi-element chemical analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry, enabling simultaneous determination of multiple elements with high sensitivity and precision.

  • Multi-element analysis of liquid samples
Instrument used
Prodigy 7 ICP-OES (Teledyne Leeman Labs)
Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS)

Element-specific analysis by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for process, environmental and research applications.

  • Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe)
  • Cadmium (Cd), Silver (Ag), Lead (Pb)
  • Manganese (Mn)
Instruments used
Varian SpectrAA 100 · GBC SavantAA
Spectrophotometric Analysis

Spectrophotometric testing supporting water and wastewater characterization for operational monitoring and environmental compliance.

  • Water analysis
  • Wastewater analysis
Instrument used
NANOCOLOR VIS II (Macherey-Nagel)
Wet Chemistry

Classical wet chemistry methods used for routine process control and solution chemistry monitoring.

  • Chloride (Cl⁻) determination
  • Ferrous iron (Fe²⁺) and ferric iron (Fe³⁺) analysis
  • Free sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) determination
  • Copper (Cu) analysis
  • Water hardness determination
Gravimetric Analysis

Gravimetric testing for suspended solids determination in liquid samples.

  • Total Suspended Solids (TSS) determination
Equipment used
Vacuum filtering apparatus with reservoir, coarse fritted disc and glass fibre filters

Project Engineering

The technical basis on which a project is built, financed and executed — from process definition, through concept, scoping, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, to FEED and detailed design.

What we deliver
01
Process Definition
  • Definition of process objectives, design basis, and key performance requirements.
  • Evaluation and selection of appropriate process technologies and treatment routes.
  • Development of process flowsheets and overall process concepts.
  • Definition of material and water balances and major process parameters.
  • Identification of major equipment and process units.
  • Preliminary assessment of utilities, infrastructure, reagents, consumables, and waste streams.
  • Process optimization and comparison of alternative flowsheet configurations.
  • Development of process design criteria for subsequent engineering stages.
02
Engineering Studies
  • Concept Studies – initial evaluation of project concepts, processing options, technical alternatives, project configuration, key design criteria, and indicative capital and operating requirements.
  • Scoping Studies – preliminary assessment of the preferred process concept, technical feasibility, major equipment and infrastructure requirements, project configuration, and indicative CAPEX/OPEX.
  • Pre-Feasibility Studies (PFS) – development and evaluation of the selected process route, preliminary engineering design, equipment selection, infrastructure requirements, and refined CAPEX/OPEX estimates.
  • Feasibility Studies (FS) – comprehensive technical definition of the project, detailed process design, equipment specifications, infrastructure requirements, project implementation strategy, and robust CAPEX/OPEX estimates.
  • Technical reports and supporting documentation for investment decisions, permitting, financing, and project implementation.
03
Project Design
  • Development of engineering deliverables from conceptual and basic engineering through detailed design.
  • Preparation of process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), equipment specifications, and process design documentation.
  • Development of equipment lists, datasheets, material specifications, and utility requirements.
  • Mechanical, piping, electrical, instrumentation, and control engineering.
  • Plant layout, equipment arrangement, and process integration.
  • Development of civil and structural design requirements.
  • Preparation of technical specifications and documentation for procurement and construction.
  • Integration and coordination of multidisciplinary engineering activities.
  • Preparation of FEED and detailed engineering packages supporting procurement, construction, commissioning, and project execution.

Project Execution

From approved design through to a commissioned plant in the client’s hands — procurement and fabrication, installation, commissioning, training and formal handover.

What we deliver
01
Equipment Procurement, Fabrication and Assembly
  • Preparation of equipment and material procurement specifications.
  • Vendor identification, technical evaluation, and supplier selection.
  • Purchase order management and expediting of critical equipment and materials.
  • Review and approval of vendor documentation, drawings, and certificates.
  • Inspection, quality control, and factory acceptance testing (where applicable).
  • Logistics management, transportation, and delivery of equipment to site.
  • Fabrication of process equipment, piping systems, structural components, and mechanical assemblies.
  • Surface preparation, coating, and corrosion protection.
  • Verification of fabricated items against approved engineering drawings and specifications.
  • Preparation of equipment for transportation and site installation.
02
Site Installation and Construction
  • Site mobilization and preparation of installation areas.
  • Mechanical installation of equipment, tanks, pumps, mixers, vessels, and process systems.
  • Installation of piping, valves, electrical systems, instrumentation, and control systems.
  • Alignment, leveling, pressure testing, and inspection of installed systems.
  • Integration of individual equipment items into the complete process plant.
03
Pre-Commissioning and Commissioning
  • Development of commissioning procedures and operating protocols.
  • Equipment inspection, cleaning, flushing, and functional testing.
  • Calibration and testing of instrumentation and control systems.
  • Dry commissioning and verification of mechanical and electrical operation.
  • Wet commissioning using process fluids and operating conditions.
  • Process performance testing and optimization.
  • Identification and rectification of commissioning issues.
04
Training and Knowledge Transfer
  • Preparation of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) manuals.
  • Training of Client personnel in plant operation, process control, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
  • Practical on-site training during commissioning and startup.
  • Transfer of process knowledge, operating experience, and technical documentation to the Client’s team.
05
Handover and Project Completion
  • Completion of final inspections and punch-list activities.
  • Verification of performance criteria and acceptance requirements.
  • Submission of final documentation package, including as-built drawings, manuals, certificates, and test reports.
  • Formal handover of the completed facility to the Client.
  • Provision of post-commissioning technical support, as required.