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BioteQ constructed and is operating a water treatment plant at the Raglan nickel mine, owned and operated by Xstrata (formerly Falconbridge Limited). The mine is located in northern Quebec, where the harsh climate limits the period of water treatment to only 5 to 6 months of the year. Oxidation of residual sulphide minerals in open pits and waste rock piles results in the contamination of drainage at the site. The water has a neutral pH but contains elevated acidity levels in the form of dissolved nickel and must be treated before it is discharged to local receiving waters. Prior to construction of the BioteQ plant, water was treated in a low-density sludge lime treatment plant.
 The plant was constructed in 2003, and has been operational since 2004, using BioteQ's proprietary ChemSulphideT process. Recent design changes have increased the capacity of the plant to 240 cubic metres per hour, double the original design capacity. In 2007, BioteQ treated 920,000 cubic metres of water. The plant recovers nickel from the contaminated water to produce a high-grade concentrate that is transported with the Raglan production concentrate for refining off site. The effluent from the BioteQ plant can be discharged directly to the environment. The BioteQ treatment plant has replaced a lime treatment plant.
BioteQ provided all capital and commissioning costs of the plant, totaling $1.8 million, and charges Xstrata a monthly capital fee of $31,800 as well as an ongoing treatment fee of $1.12 per cubic metre of water treated. Xstrata guarantees an average water volume for treatment each year of 530,000 cubic meters and a minimum of 350,000 cubic metres per year. Current mine life is estimated at more than 30 years.
The application of BioteQ's technology at Raglan has a number of process, environmental and economic benefits, including:
- Elimination of sludge production and storage
- Improved treated water quality
- Revenue from nickel recovery to partially offset treatment costs
- More reliable cold weather treatment
- Reduced overall treatment costs
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