MINING CHEMICALS
Chemical balance
John Chadwick
covers some of the
news, new formulations
and new ideas in the
use of chemicals
he global mining chemicals market is
expected to reach $38.01 billion by 2024,
according to a recent report by Grand View
Research. It says “positive mining industry
outlook in India, China, Australia, Peru, and
Chile is expected to drive the market over the
forecast period. The presence of abundant raw
materials including rare earth metals in China,
Russia, Australia, Thailand, and the US is
expected to facilitate exploration activities, thus
propelling demand for the product.
“Australia has the third largest rare earth
metal reserves in the world. In Russia,
companies have been investing increasingly in
the development of new extraction techniques
to recover uranium. These factors are likely to
have a positive impact on growth. Decrease in
ore quality of zinc, lead, copper, and nickel is
expected to promote utilisation of sophisticated
technologies requiring frothers, flocculants,
grinding aids, and solvent extractants.”
Grinding aids dominated the global market
accounting for over 40% of the global market
share in 2015. Grinding aids help in improving
the extraction process and require low
maintenance. In addition, use of grinding aids
can reduce pollution and other harmful effects
on the environment. Increasing concerns
regarding the cost of grinding the minerals is
expected to increase use of grinding aids over
the forecast period.
Explosives & drilling applications also
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8 International Mining | JUNE 2017
dominated the market in 2015 and are projected
to be the fastest growing segment.
Asia Pacific accounted for over 40% market
share in 2015 and is projected to witness the
fastest growth on account of the rapid industrial
development and increasing focus on
sustainability. Market players have been
investing increasingly in the mining industry in
the region which is expected to have a positive
impact on demand for mining chemicals.
Clariant (which just completed a mega merger
with Huntsman to become HunstmanClariant)
has made a number of investments which
increase the footprint of its Mining Solutions
business and further improve its product
portfolio, customer base and technical
expertise, it reports. Firstly, the company has
acquired Chemical & Mining Services, a provider
of specialty chemicals and technical services to
mining industry clients located primarily in
Australia. Secondly, Clariant has also acquired
the speciality mining chemicals business from
SNF Flomin, a US-based subsidiary of the SNF
Group which manufactures and distributes
reagents for the minerals processing industry.
Additionally, Clariant Mining Solutions has
opened a new facility and expanded one of its
current facilities in North America. The company
has inaugurated the Mining Application and
Development Center in Tucson, Arizona and this
is now the regional hub for mining research. The
close proximity of Clariant to key mining
Ucore