Nanotechnology: the next big thing in mineral processing

Lazarus Sauti

Most countries in the Southern African Development Community are blessed with vast mineral resources such as gold, platinum, diamonds and other resources that are critical ingredients to the transformation of the region.

However, with the abundance of its mineral resources, citizens in most – if not all – countries in the region are wallowing in abject poverty.

This, therefore, calls for strong action from regional leaders and development partners to adopt and embrace appropriate technologies that can add value to mineral resources and effectively improve the lives of citizens in SADC countries.

SADC leaders – as they set to gather in Zimbabwe to deliberate on strategies for economic transformation in the region – must, therefore, critically think about nanotechnology and its significant application in mining, especially in mineral exploration and processing.

This is so because nanotechnology can extensively improve mining operations and add value to mineral resources. “Nanotechnology has far-reaching benefits for livelihoods and economies, as it is emerging as a key platform technology that can add value to mineral resources,” Zimbabwean researcher, Rungano Karimanzira, says.

In basic terms, nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at molecular scale. This covers both current work and concepts that are more advanced. In its original sense, nanotechnology refers to the projected ability to construct items from the bottom up, using techniques and tools being developed today to make complete, high performance products.

Sharing same views with Karimanzira, authors Mamadou Diallo and Jeffrey Brinker, believe the convergence between nanotechnology and other applications in modern technologies can lead to major advances in mineral extraction, processing and purification.

They also believe that nanotechnology-derived concepts may be used in producing value added products from existing minerals. “Nanotechnology can add massive value to mineral resources such as gold, diamond and platinum. Instead of exporting these minerals in their raw state, countries must embrace nanotechnology and apply it to transform mineral resources into more valuable commodities,” note Diallo and Brinker.

Professor Paras Prasad of the State University of New York concurs: “Nanotechnology should be applied in mining to add value to mineral resources; without it, mineral resources will continue to be exported in their raw form instead of finished products.”

More so, if the mining industry in the SADC region introduces nanotechnology applications in mining, quality products will be produced and the region will benefit by realising full value of its resources.

As one of SADC’s broader strategies in Science, Technology and Innovation is to create appropriate institutions and mechanisations for the mobilisation of requisite resources to manage and run science programmes and projects, the region needs a mineral research hub that specialises in mineral processing, extractive metallurgy and other related areas such as research.

Without doubt, research capacity is critical in the implementation of nanotechnology programmes. Working closely with industry, research and development institutions, the research hub should address the need for specific research into the application of nanotechnology and its specific application in mineral processing.

To effectively adopt nanotechnology and its vast applications in mineral exploration and processing, the region also needs qualified personnel in science and technology.

However, countries in the region are facing challenges in attracting and retaining policy makers, scientists, technologists and other industry experts due to different factors.

Accordingly, regional leaders and other relevant stakeholders in science and technology should strive to develop human resources in science, technology and innovation and at the same time work collectively towards attraction, motivation and retention of scientists for the development of the region.

They should come up with mechanism to halt brain drain.

More so, researchers with interdisciplinary expertise and technology integration skills are needed for developing nanotechnology applications.

Regional leaders should also be committed to create an attractive political and regulatory climate for the adoption of nanotechnology because it could attract international investment and boost mining operations. They should do this through the development and harmonisation of science and technology policies that are investor friendly.

It is also high time leaders discuss funding, as the adoption of nanotechnology requires financial resources as well as political will. One sure way to raise the much-needed financial resources is to promote partnerships for investment in research and development within the region.

Business and political leaders should optimise public and private investment in critical areas such as research and development, and also leverage external contributions if the region is to embrace nanotechnology and benefit from its contributions in mining.

In line with the SADC’s protocol on Science, Technology and Innovation, regional leaders should also share experiences and develop joint initiatives that promote the adoption of nanotechnology in mineral processing so as to create wealth and eliminate poverty within communities, especially rural areas.

It should, therefore, be the mission of SADC member states to determine if they are fully prepared politically, financially and structurally to heavily invest in nanotechnology applications in mineral processing.