Objectives of the commitment
The main objective of the pHMine RMC is the environmental applications of Magnesia products for the stabilization of mining wastes and effluents.
The three specific objectives are the following:
1)- To treat and stabilize mining acid effluents.
2)- To stabilize heavy metals in different natural spaces, avoiding its lixiviation (decreasing the solubility of heavy metals).
3)- To remediate soils ,developing artificial soils for the recovering of altered soils by the mining activity.
4)- To decrease the environmental impact of Magnesite sources at European level, raising the awareness, not only within the EIP community but also to general public acceptance for mining activities.
Description of the activities
A1:State of the Art of the best techniques of environmental applications. T1.1 Studies of the actions to minimise the environmental impact of the mining activity of sulphide ores; T1.2 Study about the CREF of the sulphide ores of the mining effluents; T1.3 Analysis of last Research Projects to keep a Technology Watch on new methods. These tasks consist of the analysis on the state of art of the systems of acid water treatment and contaminated soils derived from mining are currently being used in metal sulfides active exploitations, acidic water treatment system generated in active mines and soils treatments.
A2:Treatment of acid waters. T2.1 Evaluation of the state of the art including the cost-effective passive treatment methods of acid waters; T2.2 Analysis of the implemented an optimized design of a passive treatment of acid mine drainage process and application of a passive treatment of acid mine drainage, for debugging such waters to allow its use for irrigation; T2.3: Development of Pilot plants. The state of the art of passive technologies will be reviewed, including a cost-effective evaluation. Laboratory column experiments. Up-scaling calculations will be done to extrapolate the results to full scale pilot plant. A full-scale passive treatment system will be implemented to treat highly polluted acid mine waters.
A3:Treatment of polluted soils with heavy metals. T3.1 State of the Art of the Magnesium hydroxide to achieve the pH of the soil, where the heavy metals show less solubility; T3.2 Evaluation by using Magnesium hydroxide; T3.3 Pre-treatment for contaminated samples with heavy metals; T3.4 Soil characterization by acid digestion and leaching test. Laboratory scale; T3.4 Chemical analyses for contaminated samples with heavy metals; T3.5 Column Tests for contaminated samples with heavy metals. The objective of the treatment is to stabilize the heavy metals by the generation of insoluble compounds thermodynamic stables, in order that the lixiviates of these stabilized wastes could be released according current legislation.
A4:Treatment of polluted and degraded soils. T4.1 Evaluation of the state-of-the art of soils recovery and degradated habitats due to the extractive activity (mining holes, wastes decantation tanks and tailings); T4.2 Pilot plant. The function of artificial soils in pHMine project is joint economic viable technologies with a satisfactory restoration of soils and with a minimization of future water affections due to mining wastes mobilization (especially heavy metals).
A5:Definition of pilot places and specific measures application. T5.1 Laboratory tests; T5.2 Implementation of solutions in the pilot places. Identification of pilot areas within the mining and processing of metal ores companies, for water treatment, solid and degraded soils. The places will be defined as interest of the participating companies, avoiding any interfering with the normal activity of plants. It seeks to define at least three pilot areas, where defined affections for water, wastes and soil could be treated separately or gathering.
A6:Characterization of materials and laboratory analysis of soils, water and artificial soils T6.1 Soils characterization; T6.2 Water characterization; T6.3 LCA study considering wastes, polluted water and soil affection per ton of extracted sulphide ore or final concentrate. Soils can be characterized by performing different tests by using XRD to identify the atomic and molecular structure of the samples and XRF. Water can be characterized using ionic chromatography and spectrophotometry.
Description of the expected impacts
A1.An analysis of the most suitable systems for treatment of acidic waters and contaminated soils product of mining activity. Lab tests: This methodology assessment will serve for the development of treatment solutions considering the possibility of introducing new neutralizing agents.
A2.An analysis and application of the best passive technology will be done focusing on obtaining water with potential irrigation use. Lab tests. Reports with the results of laboratory column experiments. Full-scale passive treatment pilot system. Results of the passive technology will be published in journals and presented on meetings.
A3.A study of the synergy with other stabilizing agents, mixing the soil with the LG-MgO with reducing agents to treat those metals pH-dependent and also the not pH-dependent one. Lab tests. An evaluation the leachates at lab scale.
A4.A report with a review of current techniques to treat pollited soils. Lab tests. An evaluation of the technologies with a satisfactory restoration of soils.
A5.Pilot places defined and specific measures. Lab tests. Demonstration in pilot areas within the mining and processing of metal ores companies, for water treatment, solid and degraded soils. pHMine will allow the valorisation of a by-product in the prevention, treatment and decontamination of areas affected by Acid Mine Drainage in Sulphide mines, as the Iberian Pyrite Belt, known for it´s geological value, but also for the environmental impacts in historical mining sites as São Domingos, Rio Tinto and other locations.
A6.Characterization tests. Reports with the results of the monitoring of the acid discharge and the treated water will be done; Market study; LCA and LCC analysis of the novel waste management solutions and comparison with those of the benchmark.
Coordinating organisation & role
Name of the coordinating organisation: MAGNESITAS NAVARRASCountry: SpainEntity profile: Private sector - large companyRole within the commitment:
MAGNA is a manufacturer of raw material (Sintered Magnesite) and of final products (refractory mass) for use at the siderurgy industry. It is also one of the principal producers of Calcined Magnesite for use in fertilizers and animal nutrition. RMC Coordinator, facilitating exchange of MTs in the treatment of metals, solid waste and restoring degraded by mining activity. MAGNA will supply magnesia for use in pilot plants, coordinate A5.
Other partners
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
Name of the organisation: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V. Country: Germany Entity profile: Governmental/public body
Role within the commitment: Fraunhofer will lead the CFRP and GFRP recycling research.
Fraunhofer will perform corrosion tests on the developed materials.
Fraunhofer will work with CIDAUT on the implementation, validation and refinement of LCCA tools for the project. Fraunhofer is the Quality Manager of the Consortium and will oversee deliverables and general reporting are produced with the best possible quality following agreed review standards.
Fundacion Cidaut
Name of the organisation: Fundacion Cidaut Country: Spain Entity profile:
Role within the commitment: CIDAUT will lead the research activities on materials recycling and compounding, implementing lab scale demonstrators of each process at its premises and, later, supporting end-users upscale the processes.
CIDAUT will perform mechanical tests, microstructural analyses, injection moulding capability studies on the developed materails, and will work with Fraunhofer on the implementation, validation and refinement of LCCA tools for the project.
RWTH Aachen University (Institute of plastic processing (IKV)
Name of the organisation: RWTH Aachen University (Institute of plastic processing (IKV) Country: Germany Entity profile: Governmental/public body
Role within the commitment: RWTH will implement the novel 3D Generative Preforming process (3D Fibre Spraying) that enables to create high-value long fibre-reinforced 3D preforms for thermoplastic and thermoset composites at low process costs (different kinds of yarn as a raw material, low tooling costs due to low cavity pressures). This cost effective technology allows to align the sprayed fibres in order to produce high-performance, engineered anisotropic products.
Universita' di Cagliari
Name of the organisation: Universita' di Cagliari Country: Italy Entity profile:
Role within the commitment: University of Cagliari is one of the leading European organization in the resin design and coupling with thermoplastic and thermose materials. University of Cagliari will support in the definition of the composite materials, both from CFRP/GFRP, ABS and Rare Earth composite material.
Relight
Name of the organisation: Relight Country: Italy Entity profile: Private sector - SME
Role within the commitment: RELIGHT will work with ITRB to provide the research partners with residues for the recycled ABS supply and the REE recovery processes, including their HydroWEEE process as part of the processes to be studied and analyzed.
Piaggio Aerospace
Name of the organisation: Piaggio Aerospace Country: Italy Entity profile: Private sector - large company
Role within the commitment: Piaggio Aerospace is one of the project End Users (Aeronautics Industry): as such it will provide requirements and further applications that could be developed with the Consortium Materials. Piaggio will assist in the compounds selection, provide Fraunhofer with specific corrosion requirements on business jet size aircraft, and will assess that the developed materials performance fits the selected applications desired improvements.
Blackshape Aircrafts
Name of the organisation: Blackshape Aircrafts Country: Italy Entity profile: Private sector - SME
Role within the commitment: Blackshape Aircrafts is one of the project End Users (Aeronautics Industry): as such it will provide requirements and further applications that could be developed with the Consortium Materials. Blackshape will support to fulfill the requirements of the aeronautics industry on ultra light jet, light jet and trainer for Syllabus, and will assess that the developed alloys performance fits the selected applications desired improvements.
KU Leuven
Name of the organisation: KU Leuven Country: Belgium Entity profile: Academia
Role within the commitment: KUL will collaborate on the balance problem studies and will lead the rare earth recovery research with the solvometallurgical and ionometallurgical processes.
KUL will also contribute to the final compounding selection.
KUL is the Dissemination Manager of the project, promoting that all partners are active on the project Dissemination.
FIDAMC
Name of the organisation: FIDAMC Country: Spain Entity profile: Governmental/public body
Role within the commitment: FIDAMC is going to lead the Work Package on Compression Moulding with CFRP-enhanced materials. As part of the AIRBUS Group, FIDAMC will also be able to provide the input material.
FIDAMC successfully developed a 3D Printer of own design to serve the Aerospace Industry and will be supporting Smart Lab 3D Industries in its 3D printer design.
COMPOSITE INNOVATION CENTER
Name of the organisation: COMPOSITE INNOVATION CENTER Country: Canada Entity profile: Governmental/public body
Role within the commitment: Composite Innovation Center is one of the world leading organization in the field of Composite materials, both from carbon fiber and vegetal-based fibers.
Composite Innovation center has successfully implemented, at lab-scale, recycling processes for CFRP and GFRP.
Existing EU Contribution: Yes
Period to implement the commitment: from 01-01-2016 to 31-12-2018