Germany’s speciality chemicals major Evonik is partnering with the School of Mining at the University of Guanajuato in Mexico to broaden sustainable, lower-toxicity chemical solutions for the mining industry, leveraging Evonik’s biosurfactant platform.
The collaboration targets to deal with increasing worldwide demand for minerals includes copper, silver, gold, iron and rare earth elements, while reducing the environmental footprint of mining operations.
Mr. Raymond Pieternella, Global Segment Head Oilfield & Mining Chemicals at Evonik, stated mines face increasing pressure to adopt much less toxic and sustainable materials, and the partnership is planned to support customers meet both manufacturing and environmental goals.
The University of Guanajuato, whose School of Mining traces its roots back almost 300 years to the early days of mining within the region, brings deep expertise in mining procedures and technologies. Dr. Martin Caudill Gonzalez, Head of the School of Mines, stated the development of mining technologies has been central to the university’s project since its founding, and expressed enthusiasm for persisting that legacy with a target point on sustainability and more secure chemical processes.
The partnership will advance Evonik’s go-to-market approach for its latest portfolio of sustainable mining chemistry solutions. Evonik brings over 40-years of experience providing specialty chemicals to the mining sector, with established brands which include Tomamine and Arosurf for flotation and reverse flotation applications. The company was the first to develop an commercial-scale process for sustainable biosurfactants, which it has since broadened from personal care and coatings into mining and oilfield applications.
