METAL & MINERAL REFINING PROJECTS
Since the 1940s, STEBBINS has been the leader in corrosion resistant linings developed specifically for Metal/Mineral Refining and Chemical Industry applications. A general overview of a few areas in which we are involved in are provided to the right.
GOLD
In addition to lined Pressure Leach Autoclaves, STEBBINS supplies for gold whole ore and gold concentrate projects, recently STEBBINS constructed five (5) very large 59 feet (18 meter) x 49 feet (15 meter) reinforced Hot Cure Tanks for a major gold producer in the Dominican Republic. STEBBINS designed these tanks with conical reinforced covers having large agitator loads and working platforms for agitator maintenance. Due to the severe process conditions, as well as high seismic and wind loads, STEBBINS’ proprietary construction was selected as the most cost effective, reliable option available when compared against titanium.
NICKEL
STEBBINS’ experience in lined process equipment dates back to the late 1950s with Moa Bay Nickel in Cuba. Our original scope involved lining over 50 Pressure and Atmospheric Vessels.
Over the years, STEBBINS has many lined applications at Vale (previously Inco) operations in Canada. We have been involved with many other projects for refining companies throughout Canada, Australia, Madagascar, and the Philippines. Our work with SUMITOMO in the Philippines includes the turnkey supply of pressure vessels complete with linings and internals for High Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) circuits at Coral Bay Nickel and Taganito Nickel. The Ambatovy Project located in Madagascar was one of the largest Nickel projects that have been built to date. STEBBINS supplied linings for 30 pressure vessels on this project.
A major nickel customer experienced severe abrasion and corrosion of the steel shell in an epoxy lined mix tank after only four years of operation. Steel bolt connections on the inside of the tank shell created a challenge to most lining systems. STEBBINS designed and installed a reinforced ceramic lining, which not only provided protection from further corrosion and abrasion, it also renewed the structural integrity of the steel tank. This is a common procedure STEBBINS has used across the many industries we service.
ZINC
Many zinc plants around the world rely on the long-term performance of STEBBINS’ constructed lined tanks for many leach processes.
For a South American installation, we had built 38 large Leach Tanks and eight large Thickeners over three expansions using STEBBINS’ proprietary construction to resist the severe hot corrosive process conditions in addition to the high seismic zone of the area.
In another application, premature failure of an FRP super-hot Leach Tank for a zinc process in South Africa led STEBBINS to construct two new Reactors using STEBBINS’ proprietary reinforced concrete/ceramic construction.
After technical review of lined constructed tank options, a major South African zinc producer selected STEBBINS’ reinforced ceramic tank construction for 16 Tanks and Thickeners for a Green Field Plant in Namibia. In a similar application, a technical review resulted in a major North American zinc refinery project for STEBBINS. The project involved four Thickeners/Clarifiers and 16 Tanks initially, and for the expansion of three Thickeners and of protective flooring.
Working in a partnership with a major Canadian zinc producer, STEBBINS has developed specifications and procedures to retrofit the jumbo electrolytic cells in Situ at their facility. These repairs have been very successful. Additionally, tanks, autoclaves and protective flooring have been provided at this site. At another major Canadian zinc producer, our tanks, protective flooring, and autoclaves have provided very robust service.
POTASH
STEBBINS’ experience on Potash projects dates back to the mid-1960s for then Kalium Chemical (now Mosaic) in Canada. This 50-year-old reference was the first solution mining process using corrosive hot brine processing, which then and still creates a challenge for providing reliable lining systems.
TRONA
STEBBINS has successfully upgraded dissolver tank linings and has supplied and installed proprietary structural concrete for floors, sumps and pads that is completely resistant to alkaline conditions up to a pH of 14.
URANIUM
The corrosive process conditions used in the uranium industry utilizes STEBBINS’ lining technology in both pressure and atmospheric applications. STEBBINS’ experience in this industry involves working with major uranium processors in both Canada and Australia.
BASE METAL, PRECIOUS METAL, AND PGM PROCESSING
Equipment previously worked on: Pressure Oxidation Autoclaves, Pre-Heat Vessels (Splash Tanks), Flash Vessels, Condenser Vessels, Product Storage Tank, and Purification and Leach Tanks.
MAGNESIUM
Equipment previously worked on: Melt Cell, and Chlorinators.