Major mining company seeks assistance in mitigation of large volumes of low concentration methane associated with Ventilation Air Methane

Major mining company Anglo American seeks assistance in mitigation of large volumes of low concentration methane (0.5% CH₄) associated with Ventilation Air Methane (VAM).

VAM is a major contributor to GHG emissions and the target of VAM mitigation efforts is to oxidise / burn the CH₄ to CO₂ & H₂O. The scale is large with airflows in excess of 500m³/s.

The current technology utilises regenerative thermal oxidation (RTO) which heats the air flow to high temperature (close to 1000^oC) to oxidise the CH₄ to CO₂ & H₂O.  What other solutions exists that can a) oxidise the methane at lower temperatures or b) concentrate the methane to >4.5% such that conventional flaring is feasible, or c) deliver an alternative mitigation route for this stream of fugitive methane.

We are not alone in this challenge and the potential market for a low cost, safe, solution is measured in billions of dollars - and the solution could be applied to other low concentration methane sources.

Potentially relevant technologies include:

• Nano-absorbents;
• membranes;
• catalytic oxidation;
• other forms of thermal destruction.

Laboratory testing is likely the next step with piloting opportunities available now and available to promising technologies. 

Anglo American Technical and Sustainability Services Ltd, Technology Development department works with start ups and innovative SMEs and OEMs all the time.  We have a pragmatic approach to IP and have been able to leverage several relationships with technology providers to deliver significant change in the mining industry over the past 6 years.