Advancing circular economy: critical minerals recovery from mineral sands processing and TiO2 pigment residues at Tronox  

Tronox is a proud leader of sustainability in the TiO2 and mineral sands industry sector. Supporting the circular economy through recovering valuable minerals from the waste streams is a priority for the company. Tronox has a number of critical minerals/metals concentrated in waste streams. The Project comprises a review of the waste streams from Tronox’s vertically integrated minerals sands mining to pigment (TiO2) manufacturing processes to determine opportunities for beneficiation and extraction by Tronox and its affiliates. The crucial aspect of recovering critical minerals/metals from waste streams will be understanding the chemistry by characterising and conducting comprehensive evaluations. This includes analysing their mineral composition, identifying the presence of critical or valuable minerals/metals, and determining their recoverability potential, potential end use and the commercial viability of processing the wastes. Once the target mineral(s)/metal(s) are identified, researcher(s) will refine identified prospective processes, and determine optimal operating conditions through iterative testing and experimentation. Through this Project, Tronox aims to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable development, resource efficiency, support for the circular economy and contribute to a more sustainable future through the responsible utilisation of waste streams. This Project will involve utilising existing research and exploring advancements in the field by leveraging CSIRO technical expertise in collaboration with the Tronox and Murdoch University partners