Hydro-Terra Inc.
Montreal, QC
Company Overview
Hydro-Terra is dedicated to developing, commercialising and implementing technologies and related services for metallurgical projects.
To achieve this, Hydro-Terra Inc. provides engineering consulting services and develops proprietary technologies that offer elegant solutions to industry-specific problems. Our main strengths pertain to project engineering, project management and to environmental aspects of mining and metallurgical processing installations. We have acquired a wealth of experience through participation in numerous projects both in international and domestic markets, which has provided us with a unique industry- focused project philosophy.
Within the metallurgical sector, Hydro-Terra mainly concentrates on light metals and chloride-based technologies. Accordingly, Hydro-Terra offers expertise that contributes to the further development of industrial projects in these fields. Among others, the engineers at Hydro-Terra have, through years of experience, acquired the knowledge and expertise necessary to effectively carry out magnesium metal related projects in all of their phases.
Project Engineering Hydro-Terra's experience on engineering projects has resulted in a company that can offer services in all phases of a project, from preliminary studies to EPCM and detailed engineering. Our engineering design activities include process development and plant layout as well as equipment design. This is geared especially towards the mineral and metal processing industry, and towards related environmental issues. Hydro-Terra has acquired a good understanding of process operations in various metallurgical activities. This enables us to look into and evaluate new technological applications matching more efficient metal processing alternatives as compared with existing 'low risk' practices. Hydro-Terra's project management and project control capabilities ensure projects are executed within realistic technical, time and budgetary constraints.
Metallurgical Engineering A number of projects to our record involve primary magnesium production installations. In addition to project engineering performed for a new secondary alloy recycling and casting facility for Timminco Metals, Hydro-Terra has been engaged namely in the development of the two major magnesium projects of the last two decades (Magcan not included). Responsibilities with Norsk Hydro included EPCM on implementing a magnesium refining and casting building for a 40 kT/y magnesium facility, as well as a magnesium recycling facility. The latter project implied modifications to an operating foundry with new furnaces and casting machines, as well as design and construction of new buildings for scrap handling.
Achievements on Magnola included EPCM, commissioning and operation of a pilot plant to demonstrate the magnesium extraction process. Our company was further involved in all engineering aspects of electrolysis, foundry and cell rebuilding areas, as well as overall plant layout for Noranda's full-scale magnesium plant. In both projects we were involved from the early phases, and have performed the tasks in an 'integrated team' approach.
Hydro-Terra is also actively engaged in the design and construction of pyrohydrolysis plants. Pyrohydrolysis is performed at high temperatures (800-1000C) in a fluidized bed reactor. Metal chloride solutions are fed to the fluid bed, where solid metal oxides are produced and HCl-gas is evacuated and subsequently recovered in a HCl off-gas treatment circuit. Hydro-Terra has extensive experience in design of such fluidized bed reactors, including specific experience with materials of construction and equipment to handle high temperature HCl-gas streams. Complete plants have been designed and are currently being designed for clients in Canada and Europe.
Environmental Engineering Sustainable and sound industrial design must always consider the long-term environmental effect of a facility on its surroundings. The goal of our specialists is to achieve this harmony with elegant solutions that will also yield a competitive commercial operation.
To complement our process expertise, clients can also benefit from our know-how in environmental engineering as applied to metallurgical plants. Process simulation in combination with laboratory test work is used to optimise metallurgical processes and reduce solid waste as well as liquid effluents. Process heat recovery is used as an internal means of energy optimisation including integrated cogeneration schemes for maximisation of energy efficiency. Other areas of expertise are capabilities in waste characterization, minimization and management, leading to overall sound waste management strategies.
Environmental audits and risk analyses studies may also be performed. Environmental impact assessments and statements (EIAs) will be essential to the client in identifying risks and potential impacts of a project. EIAs can be further instrumental in:
- Understanding corporate responsibilities regarding project-
related environmental concerns;
- Evaluating regulatory compliance of projected process
operations;
- Assessing the overall environmental viability and
sustainability of a project;
- Planning mitigation measures and technological alternatives to
improve plant performance and acceptability within well-defined environmental parameters.
- Anticipating the impact of stated environmental government
policies.
Company Information
Physical Address
1400-2001 University St
Montreal, QC H3A 2A6
CA
Mailing Address
1400-2001 University St
Montreal, QC H3A 2A6
CA
Additional Details
Legal Name: Hydro-Terra Inc.
Number of Employees: 5
CA
Process research & development Our combined expertise in the fields of metal extraction and environmental processes has given rise to innovative engineering initiatives. These have brought significant improvements to plant operations and to current waste management practices through more economical production and better environmental controls, which translate into direct benefits to the industry.
New magnesium electrolysis process Hydro-Terra is involved in the development of the Cellmag technology, a new electrolytic method for the production of magnesium metal using a hydrogen anode. This patented process was successfully tested at bench scale at Hydro-Qubecs electro- chemical laboratories. Implementation of such a technology would result in a significant reduction in energy consumption for magnesium production. Other positive environmental impacts are also expected.
Solution purification and precipitation processes In many hydrometallurgical processes, metal precipitation is employed for product purification or extraction. These precipitation processes usually lead to precipitation of very fine material, which is often of amorphous or colloidal nature. This creates problems for solid-liquid separation and the clear extraction of the solids from the impure mother liquor.
HYDRO-TERRA has developed a new technology that allows for precipitation of crystalline products. This new technology can control the growth mechanisms of the solids such that much larger particles may be obtained. Solid-liquid separation is thus made easier and the volume and moisture content of residual concentrates going to storage or landfills are often greatly reduced. The technical and economical feasibility of HYDRO- TERRA's precipitation processes has been successfully tested namely in the areas of:
- Selective iron removal from process solutions;
- Reduction of leach residue volumes;
- Gypsum crystallisation and optimization of high-density sludge
processes for acid mine leachates and metallurgical liquid effluents.
The application of HYDRO-TERRA's precipitation processes to new plants requires the installation of standard equipment, such as tanks, pumps, agitators, thickeners and filters. Existing plants and infrastructure can be easily modified to meet process conditions. Thus, the use and/or re-use of existing equipment can be optimized while keeping capital expenditures to a minimum.
Potassium sulphate production process Hydro-Terra has completed a laboratory investigation on a new low temperature aqueous media potassium sulphate (K2SO4) production process. The study showed very promising results, with the conversion of KCl to (K2SO4) having been successfully achieved during the first research phase. This new process could generate considerable savings compared to conventional potassium sulphate (K2SO4) production processes, which are conducted in high temperature furnaces.
Environmental related processes Hydro-Terra has developed a remediation technology for removal of heavy metals from contaminated soils, sludges, sediments, industrial effluents and other process stream solutions. This remediation technology, called the Hydro-Met process, can achieve high remedial efficiencies and achieve a separation of the metals from very fine particles (
Contacts
Mazi Rejaee
Title: President
Area of Responsibility: Management Executive
Phone: Show phone
Fax: Show fax
Email: Show email
Services
- Process Development And Industrial Engineering Services
NAICS Categories
Additional Information
541330
Australia, United Kingdom