OWSD PhD Fellowship
OWSD Early Career
2023
Koomson Bennetta
About the project
Her research project will devise a method to manufacture new cupels - receptacles used in mining to separate metals such as gold and silver from lead - using the residue of spent cupels after lead removal. Ghana is one of the world's leading gold producers and exporters, and the highest gold producer in Africa. Cupellation is a key stage in the gold mining process and generates huge tonnes of cupel waste annually. Spent cupels from mines and assay labs contain 37% lead on average, which is harmful to human health. While processes exist to remove lead from spent cupels, these processes ordinarily do not attempt to utilize the residue as engineering materials. This project will develop an optimized AI-controlled process to efficiently leach out the lead in the cupel waste, thereby rendering it non-toxic, and then to regenerate the lead in leachates for use in the metallurgical industry. The residue of the leaching process will then be supplemented with quicklime (calcium oxide, CaO) from local sources to produce fresh cupels for use by assay laboratories and gold refineries. Thus, this work will develop a circular economy for cupels and ensure efficient use of resources while protecting the environment from lead pollution.
Field of Specialization
Position
Lecturer
About the institution
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
Department of Materials Engineering
Full Member
Dr. Bennetta Koomson
Membership since:
2019
Field of activity:
Other Memberships/Affiliations
Women in Mining
Degrees:
2017
Doctorate
Engineering sciences
2011
Master
Engineering sciences
2007
Undergraduate
Engineering sciences
Publications resulting from Research
Published Journal Paper(s)
• Koomson, B., Asiam, E. K., Skinner, W., Addai-Mensah, J., (2017), “Understanding the Mechanism of Arsenic Mobilisation and Behaviour in Tailings Dams”, Ghana Mining Journal, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 85 – 89.
• Koomson, B. and Asiam, E. K. (2013), “Studies on Arsenic Release and its Mitigation from Tailings Dam using Nanomagnetite Particles”, Ghana Mining Journal, Vol. 14, pp. 66 – 69.
Published Conference Paper(s)
• Koomson B. and Asiam E. K. (2018). Adsorption of Arsenic by Some Iron Oxide Minerals. In: Proceedings of 5th UMaT Biennial International Mining and Minerals Conference, Expanding the Frontiers of Mining Technology, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana, August 1-4, 2018.
• Koomson B. and Asiam E. K. (2018). Iron Oxides Beneficiation from Metallurgical Slags for Arsenic Removal from Water. Poster Presentation at the Nigerian Young Academy (NYA) Workshop for Young Women Scientists in Africa, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria. March 7-8, 2018.
Koomson, B., Asiam, E. K., Skinner, W., Addai-Mensah, J., (2017), Characterisation and Beneficiation of Composite Ferrous Materials from Ferrous Metallurgical Slags, “Oral Presentation at the BSU II Conference 2017”, Maximising Stakeholder Involvement in Productive Research and Uptake, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
• Koomson, B., Asiam, E. K., Skinner, W., Addai-Mensah, J., (2016), Understanding the Mechanism of Arsenic Mobilisation and Behaviour in Tailings Dams, “Proceedings of the 4th Biennial International Mining and Minerals Conference”, Expanding the frontiers of Mining Technology, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana.
• Koomson, B., and Asiam, E. K. (2013), Assessing the Acid Mine Drainage potential of stockpiled gold bearing sulphide ore; the case of Anglogold Ashanti Mine, Obuasi - Ghana, “Proceedings of the 1st SNOWS Science Conference”, Water and Sanitation – Early Career Scientists Working in Africa, 19 pp.
• Koomson, B. and Asiam, E. K. (2012), Studies on Arsenic Release and its Mitigation from Tailings Dam using Nanomagnetite Particles, “Proceedings of the 2nd Bienniel International Mining and Mineral Conference”, Expanding the frontiers of Mining Technology, 23 – 27 pp.
• Koomson, B., Asiam, E. K., Skinner, W., Addai-Mensah, J., (2017), “Understanding the Mechanism of Arsenic Mobilisation and Behaviour in Tailings Dams”, Ghana Mining Journal, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 85 – 89.
• Koomson, B. and Asiam, E. K. (2013), “Studies on Arsenic Release and its Mitigation from Tailings Dam using Nanomagnetite Particles”, Ghana Mining Journal, Vol. 14, pp. 66 – 69.
Published Conference Paper(s)
• Koomson B. and Asiam E. K. (2018). Adsorption of Arsenic by Some Iron Oxide Minerals. In: Proceedings of 5th UMaT Biennial International Mining and Minerals Conference, Expanding the Frontiers of Mining Technology, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana, August 1-4, 2018.
• Koomson B. and Asiam E. K. (2018). Iron Oxides Beneficiation from Metallurgical Slags for Arsenic Removal from Water. Poster Presentation at the Nigerian Young Academy (NYA) Workshop for Young Women Scientists in Africa, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria. March 7-8, 2018.
Koomson, B., Asiam, E. K., Skinner, W., Addai-Mensah, J., (2017), Characterisation and Beneficiation of Composite Ferrous Materials from Ferrous Metallurgical Slags, “Oral Presentation at the BSU II Conference 2017”, Maximising Stakeholder Involvement in Productive Research and Uptake, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
• Koomson, B., Asiam, E. K., Skinner, W., Addai-Mensah, J., (2016), Understanding the Mechanism of Arsenic Mobilisation and Behaviour in Tailings Dams, “Proceedings of the 4th Biennial International Mining and Minerals Conference”, Expanding the frontiers of Mining Technology, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana.
• Koomson, B., and Asiam, E. K. (2013), Assessing the Acid Mine Drainage potential of stockpiled gold bearing sulphide ore; the case of Anglogold Ashanti Mine, Obuasi - Ghana, “Proceedings of the 1st SNOWS Science Conference”, Water and Sanitation – Early Career Scientists Working in Africa, 19 pp.
• Koomson, B. and Asiam, E. K. (2012), Studies on Arsenic Release and its Mitigation from Tailings Dam using Nanomagnetite Particles, “Proceedings of the 2nd Bienniel International Mining and Mineral Conference”, Expanding the frontiers of Mining Technology, 23 – 27 pp.