Transition to Sustainable Resource Efficiency in Metal Production and Recycling

SINTEF and NTNU have now started the purchasing of equipment related to the national infrastructure towards development of more efficient metal production and recycling of end of life products, including processes that enhance yields as well as lower processing costs. An overview of equipment that has arrived and being installed are LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) for measurements in molten aluminium, two XRF instruments (on stationary and one portable), CombiSense for for advanced mass spectroscopy measurements, HYCAL for measurements of hydrogen in liquid aluminium, centrifuge with temperature control, ICP-MS, two potentiostats with boosters, and pushrod dilatometer. The equipment is directed towards scientific based research to document new and reliable processes for the green transition. SINTEF and NTNU are also participating in many EU projects related to critical raw materials, circular, and sustainable processes for metal production and recycling. Both SINTEF and NTNU are dedicated to support industrial actors and make the infrastructure accessible to external partners.

A sustainable metal production is strategically important for Norway as a large producer of metal products to the international market (close to 20 % of the mainland export). To achieve optimised and integrated processing methodology through the whole value chain in metal production and metal circularity, the infrastructure focuses on laboratory equipment necessary in the three main, interconnected areas important in metal production: 1. Pyrometallurgical processing, covering equipment necessary to develop new and more environmentally friendly and zero emissions solutions, phasing out fossil-based reduction materials, increased raw material utilisation, and recovery from secondary raw materials. 2. Hydrometallurgical processing, covering equipment necessary for the extraction and separation of components in both primary ores as well as secondary sources with a special focus on recycling complex end of life compounds and metals. 3. Electrometallurgical processing, covering equipment suited both for aqueous and molten salt and oxide electrolysis as well as supporting developments within cell and electrode materials.