The technology · AZ-UFR
A high-performance reactor, engineered upward
The AZTEC UpFlow Reactor concentrates counter-current energy where it makes the greatest impact, delivering higher gold recovery without conventional agitators or complex control systems.
Value is lost in the tailings you already produce
Conventional gold circuits leave recoverable value in the as-arising tailings discharge, and rely on mechanical agitation that spreads energy across a large volume and adds operating cost and complexity.
Detox reagent consumption raises OPEX, and residual cyanide in the tailings adds environmental and compliance load. The opportunity is to recover more gold from material already flowing through the plant, while reducing both cost and cyanide.
Reinventing the approach to mixing
The patented AZ-UFR introduces a new generation of reactor design by eliminating conventional agitators and concentrating energy where it makes the greatest impact.
Instead of relying on large-scale bulk recirculation, the reactor uses a novel counter-current flow that directs overflowing slurry back into a compact, high-intensity mixing chamber at the reactor base, where the primary reaction kinetics take place.
AZ-UFR · vessel geometry
Reactor operation · counter-current mixing
How the reactor works
The geometry does the work. Energy is distributed by the material itself, not by a control system.
Feed enters the reactor
Slurry from the preceding circuit enters the vessel and begins its path through the reactor body.
Counter-current flow returns slurry to the base
Overflowing slurry is directed back down into a compact, high-intensity mixing chamber at the reactor base, the opposite of conventional bulk recirculation.
Energy is distributed by particle size and density
The reactor's geometry automatically distributes energy so that each fraction of material reports to its optimal counter-current kinetic energy zone.
High-intensity reaction and recovery
Primary reaction kinetics take place with exceptional efficiency, accelerating leaching and adsorption, with no conventional agitators and no complex control systems.
Stable across a wide range of densities
The reactor maintains stable hydrodynamics across a wide range of slurry densities, and restarts seamlessly after a power interruption.
Application & plant integration
Positioned after CIL/CIP or cyanide detox
The AZ-UFR circuit is located after the CIL/CIP or after the cyanide detox circuit, recovering additional gold from the tailings discharge before it reports to the tailings storage facility. Custom engineering configures the circuit for optimal integration with your plant.
Drawing ref: AZT-0000-PR-OFS-001 · issued for information. Supplied by AZTEC.
Proven benefits
What the reactor delivers for operators and investors
Independent and operational data are used to establish these benefits for a given operation through testwork.
Higher productivity and revenue
Accelerated reaction kinetics enable greater throughput and higher gold recovery from the material already in your circuit.
Lower operating costs
Efficient energy distribution and improved kinetics reduce reagent usage, delivering a reduction in OPEX.
Reduced environmental impact
Reduced free and WAD cyanide concentrations in the treated slurry support ICMI-aligned tailings management and lower environmental load.
Superior process stability
Stable hydrodynamics across a wide range of slurry densities enhance reliability and plant uptime, and can remove unnecessary thickening steps.
Seamless restart after power loss
The reactor restarts seamlessly after power interruptions, reducing production losses.
Simplified maintenance
Replaceable pump impellers simplify maintenance and reduce the drivetrain complexity of conventional agitation.
Faster, cheaper installation
Fully bolted construction enables faster and lower-cost installation compared with conventional technology.
From fabrication to full installation
Construction stage
Completed on site
In operation
Testwork & engineering support
From validation to long-term operation
AZTEC provides end-to-end support: onsite testwork to validate design parameters and de-risk capital decisions, financial modelling for feasibility and investment analysis, custom engineering for plant integration, and spares supply with long-term aftermarket support.
Ready to test the AZ-UFR on your material?
Start with mine-specific testwork to quantify the recovery, cost and environmental case for your operation.
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Quantify the value for your orebody
Request mine-specific testwork and receive a validated basis for the recovery, cost and environmental case.