Periodic Reporting for period 2 - AlSiCal (Towards sustainable mineral and metal industry: ZERO Bauxite Residue and ZERO CO2 from co-production of Alumina, Silica and precipitated Calcium carbonate by the Aranda-Mastin technology)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2021-03-01 do 2022-08-31
AlSiCal will research and develop the innovative technology that allows:
• Green co-production of 3 essential raw materials, in a single process and from one source, with synergetic environmental and economic benefits.
• Efficient use of anorthosite, a mineral abundant in Europe and worldwide • Integrated CO2 use and capture for ZERO CO2 emissions from production.
• ZERO Bauxite Residue generation from alumina production.
The experimental setups were tailor-designed and built, and became cutting-edge facilities in hydrometallurgy and CO2 utilization innovation for more sustainable industry. The AlSiCal technology has large potential to expand towards varied materials sources besides anorthosite. Therefore, besides different anorthosite qualities, alternative sources have been screened for the first process step by our experts. The first experimental campaign at bigger scale has been successfully performed, where the team validated laboratory results for anorthosite dissolution and silica production at pilot scale. The alumina production step has also been optimized at laboratory scale. The two first products (silica and alumina) are currently being assessed by our industrial partners to determine their market potential. Our modelling teams (both at reactor and process level) and LCA analysts are gathering all necessary data from the optimal process, for determining the best process configuration for future industrialization. In addition, we are aware of the impact of this technology, for which we dedicate special efforts on keeping informed stakeholders, collaborating organizations and society.