News
Issue No. 49 - October/November 2009
SA’s Scientists achieve excellence
by Pamela Brombal
Scientists are usually the silent achievers working feverishly and passionately in the background. The South Australian Science Excellence Awards recognize and reward excellence in science and acknowledge commitment and skill in raising public awareness.
The prestigious awards were announced at a gala dinner on the 20th August, with the aim to highlight the diversity of scientific research and to better understand the ways in which research is linked to the development of new technologies and products.
Professor Stephen Grano, who won the Excellence in Research Commercialisation award, and is the Research Professor at the Ian Wark Research Institute has been instrumental in the commercialisation and technology transfer of mineral processing research which has brought millions of dollars into the state and improved mineral processing practices worldwide.
Professor Grano heads the AMIRA P260 project which aims to improve flotation of minerals and in particular, its application in the minerals processing industry celebrated its 20th anniversary of operation in 2008. It is also the largest flotation project in the world. The project has improved efficiency of mineral sulphide flotation worldwide and for companies such as BHP Billiton’s Uranium and Nickel divisions, Xstrata Copper and Oz Minerals, it has addressed problems related to site-specific ore characteristics on at least 20 sites around the world.
Professor Grano says an independent evaluation study of the P260 project showed a return on investment of better than 20:1, maximising resource recovery and the value of mineral products for the project sponsors
“With the net value of investment in the P260 project of $17 million between 1988 and 2006, there has been a return of $340 million to industry,” says Professor Grano.
“Late last year we signed an agreement with BHP Billiton that provides research funding over five years, to develop technology and processes which h...
