A market size of USD 23.20 billion was recorded for mining chemicals in 2016. CAGR from 2016 to 2024 is expected to be 6.4% as per the global industry analysis. The rising emphasis on water & wastewater treatment, boosted by a rising demand for minerals, is one of the key trends driving the market. In the next few years, gold, copper, and platinum demand from various applications is expected to increase.
Manufacturing mining chemicals uses raw materials like lead, sulfuric acid, cyanide, and sulfuric acid. Humans and the environment are harmed by these chemicals. So, the use of industrial chemicals is regulated by law, in accordance with REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals), and the OSPAR convention.
Low quality ore bodies have caused many challenges in the mining industry. Over the forecast period, gold demand is expected to fuel mining activities, and in turn, mining chemicals are expected to trend upward. Generally speaking, gold from gold ore is extracted with cyanide. Nigeria, Panama, and Oman are among the countries where mining has been expanding. Mining opportunities are attractive to investors in underdeveloped countries. A response to the Indonesian ban on shipping ore has been the development of mining and smelting industries in countries such as Indonesia and Ukraine.
A critical component of the final product is logistics which is highly competitive in nature. In the case of overseas shipments, logistics can account for as much as 20.0% of the overall cost. To satisfy consumer needs and achieve economies of scale, distributors are required to evaluate all possible modes of transportation. Water and air are polluted by mining activities. Water sources are threatened most by acid mine drainage. Waterways and aquatic life can be adversely affected by acid drainage caused by mining.
Product Insights
In 2015, 57.4% of the global market was occupied by grinding aids. According to the forecast, the trend will continue. In addition to the growth of the segment, the focus on recovering high-quality minerals may be a contributing factor. For the recovery of valuable minerals, grinding and milling of ores are essential. Xanthates, dithiophosphates, and thiocarbamates are examples of collectors used in mining. In low pH conditions, collectors aid in the recovery of copper. The methods of collecting metals vary from copper, to lead, to soluble, to oily. Chemical structures and groups play a role in naming collectors. Treatment with Xanthates is used for iron sulfides and other elements with penalty properties. 15.8% of the market was accounted for by collectors.
The polymers constituting flocculants are anionic, cationic, and nonionic. By bridging or neutralizing charges, it absorbs particles and destabilizes them. AN flocculant reacts with positively charged suspensions and produces salts and metallic hydroxides. Negatively charged suspensions are attacked by cationic flocculants. Industrial and municipal water treatment practices use flocculants extensively.
Mineral concentration was first achieved with Brothers reagent. The flotation cell is able to keep gases in place and produce bubbles of the right size when operated by brothers. Mineral flotation will become increasingly important with the rise of frothers.
Application Insights
The growth of the mineral processing industry has been attributed to demand for minerals. Mining determines a great deal of processing. Open pit and underground mining, crushing, transport, grinding, and sizing, leaching, absorption, elution, and electrowinning are some of the common processes. Water treatment, bullion generation, and tailing disposal are additional ones. Mining chemicals market in 2015 was driven by mineral processing, which accounted for 40.0%.
Market share of explosives & drilling in 2015 was 35.1%. Opencast mining is characterized by blasting and drilling. In addition to rock penetration, rock fractures can also be caused by fragmentation. Exploration entails drilling and cutting, while fragmentation involves blasting. During drilling, ore deposits are removed and operational costs are reduced.
Limestone or caustic soda is needed to raise the pH of mine water. Small and large particles are combined using chemicals such as coagulants and flocculants. Almost 70% of the pollutants in the water are released by the mining industry. Increasing wastewater treatment activities is anticipated to result from these factors. As a solvent extractant or explosive emulsifier, it can also be used. High-quality explosive emulsifiers are used with explosives to ensure high performance and reliability. It is important for the emulsions to be resistant to thermal & mechanical stress when under long-term use.
