Yava’s State-of-the-Art Research and Pilot Facility at CBU’s Verschuren Centre
Who We Are - Our Story
Yava was founded to develop profitable green technologies
Our Story
Yava was founded to develop profitable green technologies to recover a wide range of minerals from ore deposits, low-grade industrial compounds, or waste. Support from the Canadian Federal government and Cape Breton University (CBU), enabled Yava Technologies Inc. (Yava’s parent company) to establish Yava’s state-of-the-art research and pilot facility at CBU’s Verschuren Centre.
By limiting ourselves to only developing green industrial processes, we were forced to find new ways to solve old problems.
A Technical Breakthrough
The results of Yava’s original research led to the development of a broad encompassing technology for recovering metals/metal compounds from sulphide or oxide ores or tailings.
The process eliminates the need for a smelter and would produce a value added product on the mine site that could be shipped directly to the end user.
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Yava’s technology has the potential to increase mine profits while reducing costs and environmental impact. The metals that can potentially be recovered include gold, nickel, silver, copper, molybdenum and zinc.
Yava’s technology could also be utilized to profitably convert hazardous waste from steel mills and foundries into value added products.
Another New Idea
A new research initiative resulted in the development of a proprietary process to produce high purity alumina (HPA) from a range of low-grade aluminum containing industrial compounds including coal fly ash. High purity alumina (HPA) is generally referred to as alumina (aluminum oxide), which is at least 99.99% pure (4N). It is one of the most essential and highly sought after ingredient for use in the areas of LED, semiconductors, phosphor, sapphire, lithium-ion battery, and others. Because of its hardness and durability, it is increasingly used for making separators in batteries.
In recognition of its HPA technology, Yava received approval for a US $7.7 million (CAD $9.9 million) grant from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC).
SDTC is an agency of the Canadian Federal government and is internationally renowned for the depth of its expertise in evaluating new green technologies. The SDTC grant to Yava was one of the largest in their 18-year history.
A New Way to Reduce Fuel Consumption
Yava has developed a carbon-neutral technology to produce a superior form of precipitated silica (SILICA). A leading independent rubber industry lab (ARDL) confirmed that SILICA made with this process outperforms other SILICA products on the market. SILICA is in high demand from the tire and general rubber industry because it enhances the performance of rubber. For example, tires made with SILICA have shorter stopping distances and reduced fuel consumption. As a result, tires made with SILICA are referred to as Green tires.
Yava has received offers of financial support from several states in the US as well as the government of Quebec. These offers of financial support are contingent upon Yava locating its SILICA plant in their respective jurisdiction.
Yava has developed a carbon-neutral technology to produce a superior form of precipitated silica (SILICA). A leading independent rubber industry lab (ARDL) confirmed that SILICA made with this process outperforms other SILICA products on the market. SILICA is in high demand from the tire and general rubber industry because it enhances the performance of rubber. For example, tires made with SILICA have shorter stopping distances and reduced fuel consumption. As a result, tires made with SILICA are referred to as Green tires.
Yava has received offers of financial support from several states in the US as well as the government of Quebec. These offers of financial support are contingent upon Yava locating its SILICA plant in their respective jurisdiction.
Short and Longer Term Plans
In the short term, Yava and its consultants are focused on completing the pilot tests and engineering, etc. that are required to complete the design of the initial plants for both the HPA and SILICA technologies. It is possible both plants will be built in Quebec.
Longer-term, Yava plans to continue to optimize its technologies and with a special focus on recovering nickel, cobalt, lithium, and gold from mined ores or concentrates. Yava is also interested in working with industry partners to develop technologies that will green their operations and increase profits.