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MPS takes #1 in worldwide cleantech comp

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Glycat
// // Perth-based Mining and Process Solutions won from among 3,700 startups from 92 countries

Perth-based mining tech company Mining and Process Solutions (MPS) has won gold at the Extreme Tech competition for its new technology “glycat”.

MPS was one of the 3,700 startups from 92 countries that pitched for the Extreme Tech competition.

The competition aims to create solutions to the UN sustainable developmental goals by engaging next-generation and experienced entrepreneurs. 

MPS is hoping to make the technology as accessible as possible to industries worldwide.

MPS win

The current industry-standard in extracting precious and base metals from ore uses sulphuric acid and cyanide in the process called ‘cyanidation’.

It’s as ghastly as it sounds. A 2016 study into cyanidation has found the environmental impacts can lead to potential health effects due to heavy metal pollution in soil and water reserves.

Perth-based MPS has developed a low-cost, environmentally friendly solution to this problem. Their GlyCat product uses glycine, a non-toxic, fully biodegradable amino acid to replace cyanide and sulphuric acid in the leaching process.

This is non-toxic and greatly reduces reliance on sulphuric acid and cyanide in the processing of precious and base metals, and therefore reduces the environmental impacts associated with it.

The process was discovered by Professor Jacques Eksteen and Dr. Elsayed Oraby at Curtin University, and went on to win the overall WA Innovator of the Year Award in 2019, the last time the award was handed out.

MPS Managing Director Ivor Bryan said technology is a powerful enabler for social change.

It isn’t just about recognising a great technology idea, it is about understanding the real problem to be addressed. It’s fantastic to see Western Australia leading the world in sustainable mining practices

Ivor Bryan

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