UK pilot plant while working on designs for the physical unit to be introduced to mining sites . Targeting the UK government ’ s buy-in into this technology , Argo ’ s relationship with the Department of Trade & Industry is key to expanding globally . “ We ’ re very keen to work with UK-based engineering and processengineering companies with a global remit ,” adds Hyde . She admits the “ golden ticket ” will be the advancement of the technology at this next stage but reveals the company has already won the support of a number of global experts in e-waste and powerful consortiums in Australia .
Argo ’ s DES technology is currently classified at the TRL3-4 ‘ Proof of Concept ’ stage . An extensive test work programme is currently underway and will progress the tech to the ‘ Bench Scale ’ stage TRL4-5 as early as the end of this year . Hyde believes the technology is commercially viable and throughout 2020 Argo will now look to advance DES technology towards a TRL5 , which will deliver the pilot plant for commercial recovery of metals and recycling of DES liquids .
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