Maximize production

Recover dissolved copper
from mining water

Turning industrial water from cost to value

Mining, heap leaching operations, concentrators, refineries and smelters spends billions annually on wastewater treatment while valuable metals like copper are lost to sludge in the process.

Our 4D Scavenger® recovery solution changes this. By recovering metals directly from industrial water streams, wastewater becomes a source of value. The result: maximized production, lower water treatment costs, improved water reuse and stronger ESG performance.

>99%

Recovery efficiency

<3

Year ROI for recovery

99%

Less hazardous waste

4D SCAVENGER® PROCESS

Produce high-quality copper concentrate

4D Scavenger® recovers dissolved copper from process water and delivers a high-quality copper concentrate ready for reuse or resale.

⛏ MAXIMIZE COPPER PRODUCTION

Pilot cases indicate potential to recover thousands of tons of copper per site annually

📉 REDUCE WASTEWATER TREATMENT COSTS

Efficient recovery process reduces chemical consumption and eliminates sludge generation

💧 MEET REGULATION AND REUSE GOALS

Efficient copper removal enables compliance with discharge limits and supports water reuse

THE TECHNOLOGY

Based on award-winning innovation

Copper recovery is powered by 4DS™ technology, designed for high selectivity and robust performance in complex process streams

🔸 Porous structure and small particle size ensure superior selectivity and effective capacity for target elements

🔸 Physical and chemical properties can be tailored to target 15+ materials

🔸 Proven performance across 70+ pilot and development projects; already in industrial use

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IP protected by 6 patent families

USE CASE STUDY

Copper recovery from mining side stream

The challenge: Low-concentration copper is lost in acidic process water stream containing high levels of other dissolved metals and contaminants.

The solution: 4D Scavenger® selectively recovers over 99% of the dissolved copper, converting the side stream into a valuable source of high-purity copper.

€30m

Worth of copper

produced annually

4-5€/kg

Cu production cost

(market price ~11 €/kg)

Who Can Benefit from Selective Copper Recovery?

Mining and metallurgical processes generate large volumes (150–1,500 m³/h) of acidic, copper-bearing process water. While copper concentrations may reach up to 1 g/L, these streams often contain hundreds or even thousands of times higher concentrations of contaminants such as iron, aluminum, magnesium, sulfates, and nitrates, presenting a significant challenge for conventional treatment methods.

Weeefiner’s 4D Scavenger® overcomes this challenge by targeting copper ions with up to 99.9% selectivity, even from complex process streams. Its high selectivity minimizes material use and equipment footprint while transforming waste streams into a source of value.

Ideal applications include:

Copper mining and hydrometallurgical operations with dissolved copper losses
SX/EW, flotation, refining, and smelting water circuits
Process water and wastewater systems requiring copper removal
Copper-containing side streams currently treated as waste

Based on our extensive knowledge in water chemistry, our specialists can asses whether copper recovery is viable for your specific case. Get in touch to uncover the untapped value in your process.

Request a free consultation >