Metallurgical Laboratories
Complex hydrometallurgical testwork, from small scale benchscale tests to large, complex, integrated pilot plant campaigns with associated in-house analytical capability.
Simulus Laboratories specialises in boutique hydrometallurgical testwork.
Founded and led by metallurgists, process and chemical engineers, we understand what our clients need from our programs and work collaboratively to deliver meaningful, actionable results.
Depending on the project, we work closely with our in‑house engineering team or directly with external clients to ensure seamless alignment between testwork, process design, and project objectives.
We take a holistic approach, looking beyond individual unit operations to consider the entire process, recognising that changes in one area inevitably influence others. This ensures our testwork supports robust, integrated process development.
As hydrometallurgy specialists, we work across all major unit operations, including leaching (atmospheric, pressure, alternative media), solid–liquid separation, impurity removal, precipitation, solvent extraction, ion exchange, adsorption processes, evaporation–crystallisation, and electrowinning/electrorefining.
Comprehensive Hydrometallurgical Capability
What truly sets us apart is our genuine enthusiasm for developing and trialling new ideas. While many laboratories prefer more generic, standard, repetitive programs, we take a can‑do, problem‑solving approach to every project. We thrive on designing novel testwork, exploring new process concepts, and pushing equipment in creative ways to unlock the full potential of our clients’ projects. Innovation isn’t an add‑on for us—it’s at the core of how we operate.
We work across virtually all mineral commodity types, with extensive experience in both established and emerging resource sectors. Our particular focus areas include critical and battery minerals, Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), and Rare Earth Elements (REEs), but the list of work extends well beyond this, across a wide range of metals and industrial minerals — fields where our innovative mindset and comprehensive hydrometallurgical capability help clients unlock value from even the most challenging materials. We have also been closely involved in the development of the Kell Process for PGM recovery, contributing to the advancement of one of the most significant modern alternatives to conventional smelting and refining.
Analytical Laboratory Services
Equipment and Capabilities
Our laboratory is equipped to support both batch‑scale investigations, small-scale semi-continuous and large fully integrated continuous pilot programs across the full hydrometallurgical flowsheet.
Key equipment includes:
Sample Preparation and Mineral Processing
- Bench and pilot scale crushers and mills
- Riffle and rotary splitters
- Screen sizing
- Spiral gravity separators
- Vibrating screens
- Flotation
- Davis Tube magnetic separator
- Cyclones
- PUG mixer
- Pilot scale beneficiation circuit
Leaching and Neutralisation/Precipitation Systems
- Incubated shaking table for dose–response and kinetics screening
- Heated batch atmospheric reactors from 1–100 L
- Heated continuous atmospheric reactors from 10–1000 L
- Batch titanium autoclaves (2 L and 15 L)
- Continuous titanium autoclaves (16 L and 600 L)
- Full capability for gas sparging, including handling of chlorine, sulphur dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen sulphide
Solution Purification and Recovery
- Solvent extraction: batch shakeout testing and continuous pilot SX circuits
- Ion exchange: batch tests and continuous column systems
- Evaporative crystallisers for controlled crystal growth and impurity rejection
- Batch and continuous electrowinning for metal recovery
Heat Treatment
- Batch rotary kilns for thermal conditioning and pre‑/post‑treatment
- Pilot scale Drytech rotary kiln, capable of processing 10-50kg/h of feed depending on application
- Paddle dryer
- Flash dryer
- Full capability for controlled environments, including carbon monoxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen
- Supporting infrastructure for integrated solid–liquid separation, pH/ORP control, and downstream solution treatment
Solid-liquid Separation
- Flocculant screening
- Settling tests and dynamic continuous thickening
- Bench and pilot scale filters including vacuum, pressure, and candle filters
