Hydrogen Peroxide Emulsion - Stability Verification Project

Important results from the project

The project aimed at investigating various stability aspects of the hydrogen peroxide-based explosive Hypex Bio. The work included research on shelf life, reactivity with different rock- and material types, decomposition effects and handling with focus on safety. More than 200 tests have been successfully carried out which have given a good insight into the properties of the explosive. The tests, that have been carried out in the laboratory and in a mining environment, show that the product meets the safety and operational requirements set by the mining industry.

Expected long term effects

The results show that the technology and the explosive properties are very close to the conventional equivalent. The differences and the safety aspects that need to be highlighted will be included in a training course that is currently being developed. Expected effects of the investigative work were a better understanding of the technology´s limitations and possibilities. The investigation shows that the technology is mature enough for commercial operation under certain conditions and will guide further development.

Approach and implementation

The implementation, which has been part of a larger project, was successful due to continuous follow-up and close collaboration with the mine´s technological management team. The challenges have been many, especially in test design and development of test equipment. The solution has been iterative work with focus on data collection and analysis. A significant part of the test methods and equipment that were designed throughout the project will be valuable in the continued development of the technology.