Scale
First tests at the Mytilineos BR Leaching plant
Following the successful commissioning of the new Hydro Pilot unit, the first tests in Bauxite Residue acid leaching took place at Mytilineos. The pilot over the next months will generate at least 5 m3 of Sc containing solution which will be refined into Sc concentrate at the II-VI SIR pilot plant (which is house in the same facility at Mytilineos)
Waste to Value
Researchers at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland School of Life Sciences have developed a process to recover the light metal scandium from acidic industrial wastewater by means of filtration. The promising laboratory method was tested for its industrial suitability in a pilot trial at the GETEC PARK.SWISS AG chemical park.
Hydrometallurgical Processing of Scandium Concentrate, December 2019
Purpose of developing and optimizing a sustainable solvent extraction process operation was to separate and purify scandium from a scandium concentrate generated in the II VI SIR Plant. The II-VI technology includes a selective-ion recovery (SIR) that is using a new composite extractant-enhanced ion-exchange resin to extract scandium from acidic solutions or slurries. The initial effluent solution of about 2m²
SCALE project, a H2020 success story
The SCALE project was selected as a Horizon 2020 success story, and presented as such, at the 2019 Raw Materials Week in Brussels. In addition to a brief explanation of the project, its technology and its objectives, topics such as its replicability and the use of different feedstocks, i.e. non-EU bauxite residues, were discussed in an interactive session with the
SCALE 2nd project review completed with success
The 6th progress meeting and 2nd project review of the SCALE project took place in Brussels on the 16 and 17th of October 2019. The technical progress of the project over the last 18 months was reviewed. The SCALE project now enters its final year, having successfully achieved all its technological research objectives and moves forward to make its technological demonstrations.
SCALE at EIT Raw Materials Expert Forum
SCALE was presented at the EIT Raw Materials Expert Forum on Mobility dedicated to Electrification & Lightweight Design held in Turin on 7-9 October 2019. The event was particularly relevant for SCALE as its two main topics, materials for light-weighting an energy storage (including fuel cells) are the two main markets for scandium applications, high-performance aluminium alloys and solid oxide fuel
Scale presented at Indo-European Meet
On the 18, 19 and 20 September 2019, SCALE, together with the EnsureAl and RemovAl projects, was presented at the Partnership Instrument EU-REI event “Indo-European Meet on Resource Efficiency in the Aluminium Industry with a Focus on Effective Utilization of Red Mud (Bauxite Residue)”. After a first round of meetings with the highest levels of the Indian Government and industry on
Joint MEAB-KTH pilot tests underway in WP3
The pilot test, run jointly by MEAB and KTH, aims to obtain ScF3 with a purity of at least 99% after crystallisation from scandium strip liquor.
SCALE participated in MIREU’s SLO workshop
SCALE was presented at the 3rd SLO Workshop Ensuring SLO is Adaptive and Resilient (5-6 June 2019, Brussels, Belgium), within the context of the MIREU project. The relevant lessons with regard to SLO, as well as additional aspects which affect the market deployment of the new technologies developed by SCALE, were presented to and discussed with an audience comprising other Eu projects,
Bauxite Residue on focus in the newest JRC report
Latest JRC science for policy report includes special chapter on the Bauxite Residue handling and recycling. The report, titled Recovery of critical and other raw materials from mining waste and landfills, focuses on the untapped potential to extract strategic raw materials from mining waste and landfills in Europe. The chapter, titled “Bauxite Residue as a resource in Europe”, gives the context of
WHAT IS SCANDIUM?
Scandium is a chemical element with symbol Sc and atomic number 21. A silvery-white metallic d-block element, it was discovered in 1879 by spectral analysis of the minerals euxenite and gadolinite from Scandinavia.
Scandium is a rare-earth metal, used in small amounts but with drastic effects on properties of matter. It is a key component in producing high strength Aluminium alloys used in aerospace and 3D printing as well as in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) applications.
SCANDIUM SUPPLY
SCALE PROJECT
