New bath smelting process for production of silicomanganese alloys using waste materials

The bearing idea of the proposed project is to develop a new bath smelting process for production of SiMn alloy, which will significantly utilise and reduce post-plant deposited waste materials, in addition to reducing energy consumption and in-plant mate rials handling and storage. The project will be carried out as part of the research portfolio of the Norwegian Ferroalloyproducers Research Association, with active participation of the manganese alloy producers Eramet Norway and Tinfos - in collaborati on with SINTEF and NTNU. R&D Challenges and main activities in the project are: *Demonstration of concept process and reactor/equipment for bath smelting reduction production of SiMn alloy in full scale *Demonstrate the use of waste materials and alterna tive reductants in the bath smelting process The process, if successful will: ?Significantly improve the overall recovery of manganese ?Reduce the quantity of waste products. ?Provide an alternative process which will allow the most economic raw material to be utilised. ?Enable customised alloy production could be produced to fulfil a customer request. This flexibility would allow higher value products to be produced, possibly with more economical raw materials. A conservative estimate of the economic g ains of implementation of such process is > 73 MNOK/year or approximately 8% of the total sales value of norwegian silicon manganese alloys In addition, the project is expected to lead to: ? A way to handle industrial waste products from Mn-alloy produce rs. ? Strengthen the pre-competitive research collaboration between ferroalloy producers in Norway ?Provide valuable experience for research personnel at SINTEF/NTNU through the participation at industrial trials. ?Provide the industry with a PhD candid ate with a strong process understanding and environmental focus.