Sixth Wave and Barrick idea - Final Thoughts. I have looked through the literature and haven't found publicly visible research on other IX resins being used with Glycine, only IXOS. I have found research on Glycine with activated carbon on their use together.
Meanwhile IXOS is ideal for Glycine, hence Sixth Wave's relationship to MPS.
So basically, if barrick wants to go with something other than activated carbon to avoid regeneration, nuisance copper, etc, Sixth Wave is pretty much, as far as I can see, either their best or possibly even only solution.
Keep in mind there are several points of connection between Sixth Wave, Curtin University, MPS and Barrick - through individual researchers (eg Deng) who have been involved with all parties, to the Future Battery Industries CRC in Australia. Then, with this in context, is this quote from the article about MPS & Barrick:
"We have established a partnership with Draslovka to continue to test the application of new technological innovations".
As a user on a gold processing forum pointed out, glycine is more expensive to use. Yet, Barrick believes Glycine is worth pursuing due to potential cost savings as well as environmental benefits, showing its benefits could outweigh its costs.
This then brings us only to the question the question of Sixth Wave's business model: Is it still a royalty model with no upfront fee to Barrick? Or would it be more like the (dead) arrangement with Magnus where the client is said to pay up front? If Sixth Wave takes only a royalty on additional profit demonstrably earned by IXOS, Barrick would have no reason not to include them as part of a glycine setup.
Going out on the limb, the only thing I can think is that testing and getting data for IXOS with MPS Glycine tech will require additional personnel, time and possibly resources. Either one party or the other will pay for this, or a specific arrangement will be reached.
Either way Sixth Wave would need the money to do it, which makes me wonder if this has been an issue recently for them specifically as it pertains to securing mining clients.
Overall, I'm choosing not to write off the idea Sixth Wave could end up with Barrick as a client in the future.