- State development
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Pilot scale assays ongoing to achieve TRL=6.
- Intellectual property
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PCT patent application filed.
- Intended collaboration
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Licensing and/or co-development
- Contact
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Dra. Isabel MasipVice-presidency for Innovation and TransferIsabel.masip@csic.escomercializacion@csic.es
- reference
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CSIC/IM/077
Additional information
#Chemistry
#Industrial Process
#Environment
#Recycling / Recovery
#Materials
#Metals and alloys
Recovery of added-value Bismuth from secondary sources during Copper production
Environmental and economically sustainable recovery of added-value Bismuth (Bi) raw material from the residues generated during the primary production of Copper with an integrated removal of the hazardous Arsenic present in them.
- Problem addresed
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Critical Raw materials (CRM) are high economic impact raw materials in a wide range of industrial ecosystems that, due to the scarcity of local resources and external dependence, present high supply risk. Among them, Bismuth (Bi) is a non-toxic, eco-friendly metal broadly used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics and as a fusible alloy to replace other harmful metals like lead. It presents a scarce end-of-life recycling rate (1%), highlighting the need for technological solutions based on secondary sources, to cover its growing demand.
- Proposed solution
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The copper smelter industry uses Copper (Cu) ore concentrate to obtain a high Cu quality (99,9%). During the process, different waste streams are formed, obtaining large amounts of by-products, including several critical raw materials, and waste elements.
A method is presented for the selective recovery and revalorisation of added-value Bi impurities from dust collected in the electrostatic precipitator (ESP) of the converter during the pyrometallurgical primary production of Cu. The ESP converter dust undergoes a physical-chemical process to separate the Bi as a value end-product and at the same time to eliminate hazardous arsenic (As) minimizing the environmental impact of this industrial activity.
- Competitive advantages
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- Added value to the Copper production process through Bi recovery from a waste stream, the ESP converter dust.
- Assurance of Bi supply (in its BiOCl form), critical for the EU economy.
- Reduction of environmental impact and waste management costs of industrial activities through the stabilization and disposal of As present in the residues.