From extraction to design
An expert, bespoke service that meets the needs of operators in the rare earth industry
Considering global geopolitical challenges, relying on energy transition and China's monopoly, every technological choice has its importance, and Carester offers tailor-made support, adapted to each client.
When it comes to designing a chain of operations, Carester is the partner of choice for research and development activities, putting its expertise into action every step of the way.
Consultancy: From feasibility study to follow-up of start-up of new Units
Carester offers a bespoke, expert service for junior mining companies, to support them in designing their rare earth extraction chain.
From an assessment of Capital costs and operating costs to organization of industrial unit start-up, including the design of suitable industrial mining units, Carester combines its expertise with its niche positioning to solve the problems faced by these new potential actors in rare earths.
Optimisation study of existing units
Carester also extends its expertise to established rare earth producers, providing services aimed at optimising their operating conditions. With 250 years of industrial experience in rare earth operations, Carester is the go-to partner or resolving all issues connected with production processes and even the organisation of production factories. Its service also extends o managing and reducing ecological footprints rom waste produced by mining, for companies already operating on an industrial scale.
Following very precised analyses aimed at conducting a full chemical study for extraction, Carester’s experts essentially use their skills to design waste treatment units to recycle elements with potential monetary value and/or concentrate radioactivity to reduce the environmental footprint of residue generated, particularly residue containing radioactivity.
Carester digitalises the liquid- liquid extraction stage
Carester is committed to supporting the industry digitalization, but also uses digitization as a tool to perpetuate the know-how of its teams. For example, to improve the quality of the rare earth concentrate produced (free from radioactivity), Carester has developed liquid-liquid extraction simulation software.
This software enables the process to be simulated in two modes:
- Static: the first version of the application, now available, predicts the final state of the product as a function of operating conditions and the initial state. This static mode is essential for plant sizing.
- Dynamic: this new version will arrive in a second phase and will revolutionize the industry by offering the possibility of simulating the solvent extraction process in real time, with monitoring of evolving parameters.
The dynamic simulator will be extremely useful, and may soon become indispensable in rare earth extraction operations:
- For training new employees
- For decision support in the operation of existing units
- To simulate the impact of changes in processes, raw materials or operating conditions
- By adding artificial intelligence to the best mathematical resolution of complex equations, Carester software will become a genuine simulator adapted to each industrial unit
