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BIA-Brukerstyrt innovasjonsarena

PRocess Industries in the Circular Economy - PRICE

Alternative title: Prosessindustrien i den sirkulære økonomien - PRICE

Awarded: NOK 20.0 mill.

Project Number:

294543

Project Period:

2019 - 2024

Funding received from:

Location:

PRICE is an acronym for PRocess Industries in the Circular Economy. The main objective of the project is to prepare the collaborating industrial partners to the circular economy. This competence building project gathers industrial enterprises, research institutes, and the two largest universities in Norway, i.e. Boliden Odda, Glencore Nikkelverk, KA Rasmussen, NOAH, Solberg Industri, Yara International, SINTEF industry, Univ. of Oslo, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). To reach this ambitious goal there are sub-objectives: Increased recirculation and recovery of metals and minerals - in general and between the participants in PRICE; Understanding the behavior (speciation) of and recovery or removal of valuable elements and toxic components present in low concentrations in process solutions; Use of electrochemical means to enhance recovery of elements present in trace concentrations; Value chain assessment to evaluate the impacts of circular economy value-chains through environmental modelling (LCA) and techno/economic optimization. In 2021 we have worked with separations of halogenides using electrodialysis including development of membranes. Membranes are also being tested for recovery of PGMs; speciation studies of chromium in nitro-phosphate solutions and the subsequent selective separation; and a comprehensive data analysis of fly ash - a work already published. Another publication is submitted based on the same data set. In addition, separation of valuable elements in flue gas is ongoing. The most important deliverable from the project will be four PhD-candidates with competence needed by the Norwegian industry. In addition, we arrange courses common to NTNU and UiO as well as international seminars. During the corona-restrictions the courses and seminars have been virtual.

The Circular Economy vision of keeping products, components, and materials at their highest utility at all times, has gained wide attention among decision-makers and the public over the past few years. Its implementation intends to contribute to reducing negative environmental impacts and, at the same time, generate more value, both through cost savings and through creating or expanding markets and business opportunities. Introducing Circular Economy concepts requires rethinking of supply chains through enabling new and sustainable business opportunities. This competence building project gathers industrial partners, research institutes, and the two largest universities in Norway: Boliden Odda, Glencore Nikkelverk, KA Rasmussen, NOAH, Solberg Industri, Yara International, SINTEF industry, Univ. of Oslo, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Today values are lost as part of effluents, non-optimal recoveries or part of landfills. At the same time we experience that the purest and richest deposits of minerals are becoming barren and today's raw materials have more impurities than just a few years back. For example, the zinc industry has now turned to ores containing much higher levels of halogenides and manganese. As a consequence, the electrolysis has become much more energy demanding. To implement Circular Economy the residual material must be utilized by industry. There is, however, no active responsible institution for recirculation of metals in Norway and therefore there is no knowledge of who may use the material and thus, also a lack of suitable processes. Novel techniques with high potential, but therefore of high risk, initiated by the industry will be explored scientifically in PRICE taking the full Circular Economy into account. Traditional technologies will be developed further and utilized as well. This will secure state of the art processes and realistic cases for comparison with the new technologies.

Funding scheme:

BIA-Brukerstyrt innovasjonsarena