TITLE:
WhISPER - Waterless Iron Silicate Production with Energy Recovery
DESCRIPTION:
In the pyrometallurgical copper smelting process the main product is copper but there are other products generated in consequence of the copper extraction of the ore, this is the case of the Iron Silicates (commonly called copper slags) which are the largest co-product generated during the smelting and converting processes of the pyrometallurgical route: for every ton of copper production about 2.2 ton of copper slag is generated.
The European copper sector generates approximately 5 million tons of iron silicates in the copper production by copper the pyrometallurgical route in the EU, containing valuable metals and other compounds.
Traditionally, copper slags were considered as undesirable “waste” materials that had to be discarded at an additional cost. This material is considered a product by Atlantic Copper because can be used to several applications in the construction sector (but it has a low value in the market), in other smelters is still considered a waste.
The objective of WhISPER is to substitute the actual technology for the granulation of the iron silicate by a new technology to the copper sector (atomization technology) which is more sustainable, from the environmental and from the economic point of view.
Thanks to the atomization technology, water consumption will be drastically reduced, and heat will be recovered in the granulation process of the copper slags, so operational costs will decrease significantly and will make the process greener.
And, the second benefit of the technology is that the quality of the copper slag is expected to improve, and so the product will have an added value. The new applications of the iron silicate will be studied in the project.
WhISPER is looking for a more efficient pyrometallurgical system with the application of a new atomization technology that will lead to a reduction of the environmental footprint while economic benefits increase.
The European copper sector generates approximately 5 million tons of iron silicates in the copper production by copper the pyrometallurgical route in the EU, containing valuable metals and other compounds.
Traditionally, copper slags were considered as undesirable “waste” materials that had to be discarded at an additional cost. This material is considered a product by Atlantic Copper because can be used to several applications in the construction sector (but it has a low value in the market), in other smelters is still considered a waste.
The objective of WhISPER is to substitute the actual technology for the granulation of the iron silicate by a new technology to the copper sector (atomization technology) which is more sustainable, from the environmental and from the economic point of view.
Thanks to the atomization technology, water consumption will be drastically reduced, and heat will be recovered in the granulation process of the copper slags, so operational costs will decrease significantly and will make the process greener.
And, the second benefit of the technology is that the quality of the copper slag is expected to improve, and so the product will have an added value. The new applications of the iron silicate will be studied in the project.
WhISPER is looking for a more efficient pyrometallurgical system with the application of a new atomization technology that will lead to a reduction of the environmental footprint while economic benefits increase.
DURATION:
2019/01/01 - 2021/12/31
FUNDING:
EIT Raw Materials
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