Pilot scale facility for hydro chemical metal recycling processes

Purpose and goal

The aim of the project was to prepare for development of an existing pilot plant for hydrometallurgic processes to an open plant where companies can develop their process ideas. The results obtained from the present pilot plant have been very useful for the development of robust processes for recycling of metals. The companies that are active in Competence Center Recycling-CCR along with a number of other companies support the development of the present plant to an open testbed managed by CCR. Analytical techniques and other infrastructure is available which makes investment needs low.

Results and expected effects

Recycling is now being more and more a natural part of the material use in industry. In this process it is highly probable that new companies will be created around, for example, hydrochemical recycling processes. We are only in the beginning of that development in which the planned testbed can be a factor to strengthen innovations and development of new areas of employment. Placing the testbed at Chalmers University will make it possible for companies to get support in the whole development of their ideas from lab tests to upscaling of the process including theoretical modelling.

Approach and implementation

The planned hydrochemical testbed has attracted interest from industry. The best form of organisation is within the Competence Center Recycling-CCR and hosted by the Nuclear Chemistry/Industrial Material Recycling group at Chalmers University. A significant infrastructure of analytical techniques and a suitable space is available in the Chemistry building of the university. Personell from the Industrial Materials Recycling group can work with the testbed on a flexible part time basis. The testbed will become the Swedish node in a planned European hydrochemical institute.