PyroTeCnIC

Description

The PyroTeCnIC project aims at valorising the Walloon know-how in pyrometallurgy, at the service of the circular economy and competitiveness: by producing locally alternative sources of alloying elements (Cr, Ni, Mo, V, W, Nb, Co…) from industrial residues, by adding a ‘plasma furnace’ technology to hydrometallurgy for a better recovery of critical metals, and finally by adapting the production of metallic powders by atomization to the needs of recycling.   

Briquetted products of residues rich in alloying elements will be developed to serve as secondary raw materials with a controlled quality, for Aperam (stainless steel production), MK (rolling mills) and other foundries. CRM Group will support Revatech and Fiven in diversifying and massifying the supplies by synergistic combinations of different waste flows and pre-treatment stages before briqueting, like sorting, crushing, screening or magnetic separation.   

Within the framework of the ongoing Plasmetrec project, CRM and Hydrometal are already developing a unique combination of pyrometallurgy (plasma furnace) and hydrometallurgy to treat a wider variety of industrial residues, e.g. containing non-ferrous metals in low concentration. The flexibility of the plasma furnace will allow the development of processes adapted to complex niche streams of end-of-life products (e.g. small unsorted batteries). 

Digitalization will ensure high performance despite the greater intrinsic variability of the recycled materials and the complexity of the processes involved: Equans will collaborate with CRM Group to develop a Digital Twin of the plasma furnace, and CRM Group will design a specific on-line instrumentation for briquette quality control at Revatech.