Lotta Rintala

Knowledge Formalisation for Hydrometallurgical Gold Ore Processing

This paper describes an approach to externalising and formalising expert knowledge involved in the design and evaluation of hydrometallurgical process chains for gold ore treatment. The objective of this knowledge formalisation effort is to create a case-based reasoning application for recommending a treatment process of gold ores. We describe a twofold approach to formalise the necessary knowledge. First, formalising human expert knowledge about gold mining situations enables the retrieval of similar mining contexts and respective process chains, based on prospection data gathered from a potential gold mining site. The second aspect of our approach formalises empirical knowledge on hydrometallurgical treatments. The latter, not described in this paper, will enable us to evaluate and, where needed, redesign the process chain that was recommended by the first aspect of our approach. The main problems with the formalisation of knowledge in the gold ore refinement domain are the diversity and the amount of parameters used in literature and by experts to describe a mining context. We demonstrate how similarity knowledge was used to formalise literature knowledge. The evaluation of data gathered from experiments with an initial prototype workflow recommender, Auric Adviser, provides promising results.

Two-Phased Knowledge Formalisation for Hydrometallurgical Gold Ore Process Recommendation and Validation

This paper describes an approach to externalising and formalising expert knowledge involved in the design and evaluation of hydrometallurgical process chains for gold ore treatment. The objective was to create a case-based reasoning application for recommending and validating a treatment process of gold ores. We describe a twofold approach. Formalising human expert knowledge about gold mining situations enables the retrieval of similar mining contexts and respective process chains, based on prospection data gathered from a potential gold mining site. Secondly, empirical knowledge on hydrometallurgical treatments is formalised. This enabled us to evaluate and, where needed, redesign the process chain that was recommended by the first aspect of our approach. The main problems with formalisation of knowledge in the domain of gold ore refinement are the diversity and the amount of parameters used in literature and by experts to describe a mining context. We demonstrate how similarity knowledge was used to formalise literature knowledge. The evaluation of data gathered from experiments with an initial prototype workflow recommender, Auric Adviser, provides promising results.

Applicability of Case-Based Reasoning for Selection of Cyanide-Free Gold Leaching Methods

Designing hydrometallurgical experimental work, not to mention entire processes, is a complex task involving various ore properties and their combined effects on the available treatment methods. Gold leaching is one hydrometallurgical process, cyanide being the predominantly utilized leaching agent since late 1800s. Case-based reasoning (CBR) has previously been applied for selecting established process chains for a given gold ore, but with this paper, we are taking this previous research of gold processing towards cyanide-free leaching methods that are currently in development stage and not yet industrially applied. The utilization of CBR for cyanide-fee gold extraction experiment design is tested by building a preliminary CBR knowledge model to recommend treatments for gold extraction. Publications on cyanide-free leaching were analyzed and metallurgical researchers were interviewed in order to define the necessary attributes and their value ranges to be included in the model. We report the challenges encountered while building the CBR knowledge model, discuss its functionality and make suggestions for future research on the topic.

Recycling – the importance of understanding the complexity of the issue

Abstract Natural resources and raw materials such as metals and minerals are often taken for granted in today’s society. Without them, the offerings of an enormous variety of modern conveniences, including computers and mobile phones, would not be possible. The production of these everyday items depends on a secure, sustainable, and reliable supply of critical raw materials. In addition, product development also requires new hybrid materials when targeting lightweight structures, etc. However, the mandatory recyclability of new products or materials is not obligatory or even prevailing practice in present manufacturing business. Therefore, the main research question in this article is: “how to solve the challenge of recycling in industrial system?” In this article, a comprehensive approach to recycling based on the findings of research projects is presented. Simplified, this involves moving the challenge from the end of the product’s life cycle to the beginning, to the design or even to material development phases. Life cycle and system thinking and material know-how in the design phase are found to be essential elements of a new approach to recycling. This approach stems from the material development and market economy perspectives. Furthermore, the vulnerability of the industrial system to create uncertainty to recycling is also demonstrated.