Amara Raja Infra Bags EXIM India-Funded Large Solar Project in Bangladesh, Worth $130 Million
Amara Raja Infra Private Limited (ARIPL), part of the $1.75 billion Amara Raja Group, has accomplished a significant achievement by securing a new solar project in Bangladesh. This venture serves as ARIPL’s entry into the international solar market, marking a new milestone for the company.
The scope of the project, valued at $130 million, consists of Engineering, Design, Supply, Installation, and Commissioning of a 100 MW (AC) Solar PV Power Plant and will be funded by the EXIM Bank of India. ARIPL, in collaboration with Premier Solar of Hyderabad, secured the project from Rural Power Company Ltd (RPCL) in Bangladesh. The project spans 326 acres at Madarganj in Jamalpur District and will be completed in the next 18 months. After the project is commissioned, ARIPL will also provide comprehensive operation and maintenance services for two years, along with warranty spares and consumables.
Vikramadithya Gourineni, Director, Amara Raja Infra Pvt Ltd said, “It is an extraordinary achievement for the Amara Raja Group to secure this contract amidst stiff competition from industry giants. In a short period of time, we have taken on some of the biggest renewable energy projects in India, and with this project we can establish ourselves as a serious player in the international market as well.”
“Over the past many years, we have proven ourselves as a trustworthy partner with high integrity and a commitment to delivering critical projects as per customer timelines. With this project, we have got an opportunity to replicate our success in the international market as well,” added Dwarakanadha Reddy, Head – Power Division at ARIPL.
With this win, ARIPL solidifies its reputation as a leading player in the renewable energy sector, both domestically and internationally. Last year, the company had bagged India’s first green hydrogen fuelling station project being commissioned in Leh by NTPC and the first 400 KV GIS project from GSECL. With the current project of 100 MW (AC) in Bangladesh, the company now has a solar portfolio of 1 GW in pipeline.
Graphene Nanotube Dispersion for Latex Gloves Meeting ESD Standards to Be Produced in Sri Lanka
Hayleys Aventura has established local manufacturing of a graphene nanotube dispersion for latex in Sri Lanka, utilizing OCSiAl know-how.
The aim of the newly launched product is to meet the growing demand in South Asia and Europe for a solution for full compliance with the latest ESD standards and touch screen capability for latex gloves.
The collaboration between Hayleys Aventura, a premier industrial solutions provider and subsidiary of the leading diversified conglomerate in Sri Lanka Hayleys PLC, and OCSiAl, a leader in graphene nanotube technology and production, has resulted in the launch of local manufacturing of the TUBALL LATEX graphene nanotube dispersion. The production line has been installed at Hayleys Aventura’s facility in Kaluthara, Sri Lanka, leveraging OCSiAl’s know-how. This new production capacity is intended to meet the demand in the South Asia and European regions.
According to Jayanga Ileperuma, General Manager of Hayleys Aventura, “Advances in the automotive, electronics, and ATEX markets require personal protective equipment, and gloves in particular, to increase process efficiency using touch screen-compatible gloves, protect from static electricity damage, and promote new ESD-safety requirements for personal protective equipment. Graphene nanotubes revolutionize the ESD glove sector, allow gloves to dissipate static charges in full compliance with the latest ESD standards. The newly launched manufacturing of TUBALL LATEX dispersions empowers leading industrial glove manufacturers, enabling them to enhance the performance of their products and gain a competitive edge in the market.”
Ravi Mohan Dabral, Director of Business Development EMEA, stated, “As a trusted distributor of OCSiAl’s graphene nanotube products for rubber, latex, and other polymer applications in Sri Lanka since 2017, Hayleys Aventura has decided to open local manufacturing to meet the growing market demand. We are excited to expand our collaboration and grant a license to manufacture and market nanotube dispersions in the South Asia region, demonstrating the confidence and trust between the two companies.”
TUBALL LATEX, a water-based solution containing well-dispersed graphene nanotubes, is applied to produce latex industrial gloves that are in high demand in industries that require ESD protection, such as the automotive, electronics, construction, pharmaceutical, mining, gas, and chemical industries. In contrast to ammonium salts, which easily evaporate, graphene nanotubes provide permanent and humidity-independent electrical resistance without drawbacks in dipping technology or glove performance and fully compliant with the latest ESD standards, including the new European standard EN 16350:2014 and ATEX regulations.
Remarkably, extremely low working dosages of OCSiAl’s nanotubes, starting from just 0.06%, are sufficient to achieve electrical resistance below 1*10^8 ohms. The exceptional properties of graphene nanotubes, including high strength, electrical conductivity, and flexibility, enable manufacturers to achieve the required level of electrical conductivity without affecting coloration and with no changes to the standard processing.
SABIC Launches Material Finder Website Featuring Rich Functionality and High-value Data to Give Customers a Digital Edge When Selecting Specialty Thermoplastics
SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, is debuting its new SABIC Material Finder website to help customers and prospective customers conveniently search, compare, evaluate and select specialty thermoplastic materials for a wide range of applications. The new website, which provides robust functionality and high-value, multi-point data, offers several unique features to casual and registered users. Any user can review information on more than 2,000 SABIC specialty resins, copolymers, and compounds – one of the largest portfolios in the industry. For registered users, SABIC’s Specialties business’ product material data is available for easy download in multiple computer-assisted engineering (CAE) platform formats to simplify the material selection process. They can also request color-matching services or place orders for color chips directly from the website.
“We created the SABIC Material Finder website to give customers the advantages of convenience and control in the selection of our specialty materials,” said Sanjay Mishra, who heads R&D and Manufacturing for Specialties, SABIC. “By providing digital tools for accessing authentic, validated product data directly from SABIC, this new website can significantly streamline the decision-making process. Customers are also encouraged to go beyond the data and work with us one on one to ensure they have all the necessary information and insights to evaluate the best materials well-suited for their applications.”
Multi-point Data for In-depth Evaluation
The SABIC Material Finder website provides a wealth of up-to-date SABIC product data that can be easily searched and filtered to meet specific requirements. For each product grade, users can obtain a list of key features, target industries, and potential applications and use cases. A deeper search reveals specific properties, values and test methodologies, appropriate processing methods and available or custom color options. Registered users can also make a profile and save their favorite products to revisit later.
The comparison tool within the website allows users to select up to five grades for a side-by-side evaluation of key performance properties, including electrical, mechanical, impact, thermal, physical and flame characteristics. The exceptionally detailed comparisons also include equipment specifications, settings and conditions recommended for injection molding, extrusion, and other applicable processes, such as wire coating.
Registered users gain access to additional technical data and resources, including curve data, design and processing guides, and other product literature. Designers can now obtain CAE cards from seven widely used platforms and more CAE software formats will be added soon.
All these technical resources enable customers to perform detailed evaluations of candidate materials for their target applications, giving them a high level of confidence in selecting SABIC’s specialty materials.
Application Examples for Inspiration
The SABIC Material Finder website offers information on a wide range of applications made with SABIC’s specialty materials. They include real-world components and use cases that span multiple industries, from mobility to consumer electronics, industrial, infrastructure and healthcare. Site visitors can explore potential applications and learn about the benefits of using SABIC’s specialty resins, compounds, and copolymers.
The new website also provides practical details on purchasing materials in each geography (Asia, Europe, and North America), and lists buying contacts. If color services are needed, users can go directly to the ColorXpress website to search for available colors and special effects, order color chips or request a color match.
Solvay to Present Comprehensive Portfolio of Advanced Material Solutions at Semicon China 2023 in Shanghai
High-performance specialty polymers and chemicals engineered to meet the needs of manufacturers across all semiconductor processes
Solvay, a leading global supplier of specialty materials, has announced that it will attend Semicon China 2023 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre from June 29 to July 1. Exhibiting at Booth E7249, the company will present a complete array of advanced polymers and chemicals designed to push the limits of chip performance with outstanding purity, long-lasting chemical stability and optimized resistance to high temperatures and plasma.
“At Solvay, we understand the importance of China’s semiconductor industry and have made key investments to support our customers in this dynamic market,” says Andrew Lau, Senior Executive Vice President of Solvay Materials. “From high-performance polymers to slurry abrasives, gases, and wet chemicals, our materials are engineered to meet the unique and complex challenges of manufacturers at each and every step in semiconductor processing. In addition, our R&D activities are focused on delivering high sustainability and performance for next-generation processes in line with the semiconductor manufacturing roadmap. Our new Application Development Lab in Shanghai has all the resources in place to provide tailored solutions and respond to local market needs faster and with greater proximity to customers than ever.”
With extensive technical industry expertise and a broad product portfolio, Solvay is a leading supplier of specialty polymers and chemicals for the semiconductor industry across all stages of manufacturing from FEOL (front-end-of-line) to BEOL (back-end-of-line), including duct coating, filtration, piping and tubing, wafer handling, lithography, as well as testing and packaging.
Solvay’s specialty polymers and chemicals for the semiconductors industry have proven their superior resistance to the harsh conditions of cutting-edge semiconductor processes needed for innovative semiconductor node designs. These materials can be found in nearly every processing step, including cleaning, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), dry and wet etching and chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). Polymer offerings span from polysulfones and semi-crystalline specialties to fluoroelastomers, all engineered to provide superior cleanliness and purity, excellent chemical stability and high heat tolerance in combination with long-term reliability and efficiency in advanced semiconductor applications. This is complemented by a wide range of high-purity, high-quality and consistent semiconductor process chemicals used primarily in the cleaning and etching stages of semiconductor chip production.
At Semicon China 2023, Solvay will also highlight their recent progress in sustainable material solutions and their innovation commitment to helping their customers meet ambitious emission targets. Through their wide portfolio that includes a more sustainable range of highly specialized fluoropolymers as well as bio-based, mass-balanced, recycled polymers, they are focused on solutions that will help reduce emissions, enabling the high performance required by the semiconductor industry with a reduced carbon footprint.
In addition to the company’s exhibit at Booth E7249, Andrew Lau, Senior Vice President of Solvay Materials will speak before registered attendants about ‘[Solvay’s Polymer Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing of Next Generation Semiconductor Technologies]’ at the SCC Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development Summit on July 1 in the Grand Ballroom 2, 3F, of the Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel Shanghai.
Xeikon Panther UV Inkjet Technology Extends Capabilities at Etiflex
Superior test results and the ability to print high opacity white in a single pass were among the key reasons the PX3000 was chosen
Responding to strong growth in demand for high-quality digital labels, Etiflex S.C. in Poland has invested in a Xeikon PX3000 UV inkjet press to further increase productivity and expand into new markets. The printing company, which is based in Poznań, made the investment after working closely with Xeikon to find the right solution. Co-owner Przemysław Wagner, who runs the company together with Karol Kuligowski and Piotr Smoliński, explains, “We chose Xeikon PX3000 UV inkjet label printing press because it allows us not only to increase productivity, but also to expand into new market segments due to its ability to print white with high opacity in a single pass.”
During the decision-making period, the Etiflex team visited Xeikon’s headquarters in Lier, in Belgium, where they were pleased to witness superior print results achieved during very detailed tests on the PX3000. They were also impresses with the flexible approach in constructing the offer which convinced them that the purchase of this particular machine would be the most effective for the company.
Mr Wagner continues, “While looking for a UV inkjet machine, we talked to several companies who offer this type of device, but it was only during our meetings with Xeikon that we felt our needs and requirements were made a real priority. The approach taken by Xeikon at every stage of the talks, from the initial presentation of the machine to final contract negotiations, convinced us that their offer was exactly what we were looking for.”
With the new Xeikon PX3000, Etiflex has significantly extended the scope of its collaboration with companies to include craft breweries, juice, and other beverage producers. It has also acquired more customers from the automotive industry as well as offered its services to new markets, such as cosmetics. Among the other factors that persuaded the co-owners to make the investment, the excellent printing speed of 50 m/min and high cost-efficiency of Xeikon PX3000 were also noted.
“We chose the 330mm print width machine because it helps us to optimize the use of raw materials which fits the needs of our orders,” adds Piotr Smoliński, director for flexo at Etiflex. “Our PX3000 prints in 5 colors – CMYK and white – and it has greatly extended the range of substrates that we can offer, allowing us to produce digital labels for segments that were not available to us before. In addition, the machine has been configured so we can offer hybrid printing or add personalization and variable elements to pre-printed images and text.”
“Adding digital technology has changed our company by optimizing our production costs and being able to offer our customers more attractive terms, while maintaining high quality. Thanks to the better performance of Xeikon PX3000 compared to our previous digital machine, and the good printing quality and lower production costs provided by UV inkjet technology, we have managed to achieve this goal,” agrees the three co-owners. “At the same time, we have significantly increased our production capacity which translates into shorter delivery times. Even better, with new press, we have successfully acquired a significant number of new customers who require labels printed on clear-on-clear substrates and other transparent films. They particularly appreciate the high-coverage white ink, which ensures optimal printing results.”
Michał Kuczkowski, sales manager at Xeikon, concludes, “The results achieved by Etiflex, including the print quantities they have produced, exactly match the plan they developed during the pre-sale period. Xeikon PX3000 is a very cost-efficient solution which means that the company can now take on orders that, until recently, would have been processed using a conventional machine. And using the inline embellishments capabilities of the new press, the company is also adding more value, such as attractive haptic effects, to the labels produced. I look forward to observing future projects and plans which will further highlight the passion, collaboration, and personal commitment of Etiflex.”
For more information about Xeikon, visit www.xeikon.com
High-tech Robotics & Automation: Recycling Specialist Lindner Celebrates Opening of New Home of Recycling
Lindner family business invited long-time associates and partners to the official opening of the new company headquarters in Spittal/Drau, Austria. In addition to that the company celebrated its 75th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of its subsidiary Lindner Washtech. As part of the opening celebrations, visitors were given exclusive insights into the state-of-the-art production facilities.
Manuel Lindner (right), owner & Managing Director of Lindner, Michael Lackner (left), Managing Director of Lindner.
Make the most of waste. Committed to the circular economy and transforming waste into new raw materials, recycling pioneer Lindner has been exporting shredders and recycling plants all over the world for 75 years. Whether it be in South Korea, the US, Brazil, Italy, Sweden, Germany or Austria – recycling solutions from Lindner are often considered to be the benchmark in the industry. Solutions from Lindner process household waste, industrial and commercial waste, plastics, waste wood and light metals into new recyclable raw materials. Since the company was founded, shredders and system solutions have been planned and manufactured in Spittal an der Drau in Carinthia. “The positive market development coupled with the increasing demand for Lindner quality products led to our decision to construct a new plant in 2019 and so to invest around 48.5 million euros. “This turned out to be an important strategic step,” emphasises Manuel Lindner, owner and Managing Director of Lindner-Recyclingtech GmbH. “In many ways, 2023 is a historic year for us. We want to celebrate the two company anniversaries as well as the successful move to our new home of recycling together with our long-time supporters and customers.”
Plasma cutting machine With the plasma cutting machine, the in-house production depth was increased and the cutting tolerances reduced. A key component of series production.
Automation & Sustainability
With the new plant, the production area has more than doubled in size to 14,000 m². “The high demand for our machines goes hand in hand with a capacity increase – hence why we decided to double the production area. The further expansion of robotics and automation technology in the welding workshop and machining production is just as crucial here, because if we want to finish more machines in assembly, we also require more individual components. Thanks to the new production technologies, we can now manufacture a lot of the machine parts ourselves, which is very convenient for us, especially when supply chains are interrupted,” explains Manuel Lindner. “By expanding high-tech automation and robotics, we can also offer our employees a better workplace. Physically strenuous work, which was sometimes necessary when loading machines, is no longer required. The focus has now switched to the expert operation of the production machines. We were also able to create a nice atmosphere for our employees in the office building with the new bright and friendly rooms,” adds Michael Lackner, Managing Director at Lindner.
As a recycling specialist since its early days, Lindner places great emphasis on sustainability, protecting the climate, and conserving resources. Therefore a particular emphasis was put on minimising the carbon footprint when planning and constructing the new building. From its energy supply, ventilation, ceiling cooling systems all the way to paving the car park in front of our offices with recycled turf bricks – the company was committed to prioritising recycled and carbon-neutral materials and generating renewable energy. Air source heat pumps and ground water pumps provide for cooling, heating and
Fully automated circular welding machine (HTW) The fully automatic circular welding machine is primarily used for producing Urraco shafts, the heart of Lindner’s mobile twin-shaft shredders. Two welding robots are in operation here 24/7.
ventilation, and the building’s own photovoltaic system on the roof provides the necessary energy. “Our new facility is completely energy-independent and is a benchmark in sustainable construction,” explains Matthias Egarter, CFO at Lindner and leading Project Manager of the new building. “We generate all our electricity using our own 720 kWp photovoltaic system and any excess energy is fed into the grid. On top of this, all the energy for heating and cooling is generated using groundwater wells, making the process entirely CO2 and climate neutral.”
10 Years of Lindner Washtech For 10 years, Lindner Washtech has been developing and installing modular complete washing and sorting systems for recycling thermoplastics worldwide and is one of the international big players in the plastics recycling market.
10 Years of Lindner Washtech
As part of the opening celebrations, the company was also able to take a look back on 10 years of Lindner Washtech, the on plastics recycling specialized subsidiary. “A lot has happened in the market since the company was founded,” explains Harald Hoffmann, Managing Director of Lindner Washtech. “Before our company turned 5 years old, the market for plastics recycling was still quite small. Since then we’ve invested a lot in product development – in some cases together with our customers. This has resulted in several great products and numerous long-standing partnerships,” Hoffmann is pleased to say. “Today, plastics recycling is an integral segment of Lindner’s business,” adds Michael Lackner, Managing Director of Lindner Recyclingtech. “Lindner Washtech has developed very favourably in recent years; the company supplies or installs complete washing and sorting systems for various thermoplastics worldwide. With Lindner Washtech, we are undoubtedly one of the international big players in plastics recycling”.
The Lindner Family Company is currently being run by Manuel Lindner in the third generation. As part of the celebrations – the opening of the new plant, 75 years of Lindner and 10 years of Lindner Washtech – also Manuel Lindner’s father Manfred, his sons Luis and Lorenz as well as his wife Karin joined the celebration.
SABIC Debuts LNP THERMOCOMP Compound to Help Facilitate the Adoption of LDS Antennas and Advance Device Production
SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, today introduced new LNP THERMOCOMP WF006V compound, which is well suited for laser direct structuring (LDS) of antennas that are integrated into the housings and covers of consumer electronics devices, appliances and other electronic components. The new material can help facilitate the adoption of LDS antennas to replace incumbent options such as flexible printed circuit (FPC) antennas by enabling customers to create complex and miniaturized designs, accelerate production and reduce system costs. The glass-fiber-reinforced compound provides a tensile modulus more than two times higher than that of unfilled polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or polycarbonate (PC) resin, and could be used for molding small, thin-wall parts. It also delivers good surface quality for attractive aesthetics, and good signal gain and LDS performance. Compared to traditional materials, the LNP THERMOCOMP WF006V compound offers better chemical resistance and hydrolytic stability, and lower warpage.
“Antennas are essential components of applications with wireless connectivity, such as smartphones, smart appliances and GPS trackers,” said Joshua Chiaw, Director, Business Management, LNP & NORYL, Specialties, SABIC. “Laser direct structuring has become a key enabling technology for these antennas. Our new LNP THERMOCOMP material can help customers optimize the design, production cycle time and appearance of LDS-integrated antennas in a growing array of applications. This new compound demonstrates SABIC’s ongoing commitment to delivering new, targeted solutions that address the evolving requirements of connected devices.”
SABIC Compound Optimizes LDS Antennas
The LDS process allows an antenna design to be directly transferred onto the three-dimensional surface of a part molded from a polymer with special additive chemistry. After laser activation of the pattern and chemical plating, the antenna is connected to a circuit. This technology supports part integration, minimizes space requirements, simplifies prototyping and enables cost-effective mass production.
LNP THERMOCOMP WF006V compound addresses the challenges of incumbent materials, and has the potential to avoid yield loss, rework and subsequent extra cost. Chemicals used in the electroless plating process can erode some glass fiber-reinforced materials, causing the fibers to migrate to the exterior of the part where they affect surface finish. Other materials can warp due to their anisotropic characteristics. Still another challenge is excessive moisture absorption by certain resins, which can result in poor dielectric stability.
The SABIC compound overcomes all these issues by delivering excellent chemical resistance, low warpage and low moisture uptake. This material also features good impact resistance and laser welding capability.
“Successful laser direct structuring of integrated antennas requires a careful balance of polymer properties,” said Jenny Wang, Director, Formulation & Application, APAC, Specialties, SABIC. “Our material scientists applied their extensive experience with this process, including its use in 3D molded interconnect devices, to develop a new LNP THERMOCOMP compound that meets these requirements. This specialized material has the potential to help improve antenna performance, dielectric properties and aesthetics.”
Archroma and Somelos to Advance Textile Industry Sustainability With New Dyeing and Finishing Process for Water Savings of Up to 97%
Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, and Somelos, a world-renowned vertically integrated textile group in Portugal, have joined forces to advance sustainable cotton processing with a new water-saving dyeing and finishing process that generates no wastewater.
Conventional cotton dyeing and finishing requires substantial water and chemical inputs and produces a large volume of wastewater. Long-lasting wash-down effects in particular, traditionally require two water-intensive processes: one to get the color intensity and one to achieve the washed-down contrast. Relying on such resource-intensive processes is of particular concern in nations affected by drought and water scarcity, like Portugal, the home of Somelos since its founding in 1958.
To address this challenge, Archroma and Somelos have now developed the New Dry Dyeing/Ox Finishing process for the production of bottoms and shirting in cotton fabrics. Based on Archroma’s Pad-Ox dyeing process, which combines oxidation and fixation into one step, and the latest technologies for washdown effects, including ozone and laser treatments, it delivers water savings of up to 97% compared to conventional cotton dyeing and finishing.
The New Dry Dyeing/Ox Finishing process only uses water to prepare the dye and oxidation baths. Archroma Diresul RDT liquid pre-reduced sulfur dyes ensure easy washdown and direct fixation—with no need for pre-washing—delivering shorter processing, cleaner production and high wash -fastness.
“Archroma and Somelos both believe that sustainability adds value for textile and apparel brands, helping them save resources while they tap into new markets. Together, we have developed a water-saving dyeing and finishing process that not only represents a significant advance in sustainability for the textile industry, but that also empowers brands to protect the environment and deliver eco-friendlier products to an eager buying public,” Umberto De Vita, Director, Denim Market Segment, Textile Effects Division, Archroma, said.
“At Somelos, we know that cleaner textiles make a better world. We have invested heavily over the years to achieve eco-friendly production and a zero-carbon footprint, installing our own solar energy park for clean energy and treating and re-using our wastewater. We are delighted to be working with Archroma as we take another step on our sustainability journey and prioritize water saving with our new and innovative cotton dyeing and finishing process,” Sofia Vale, R&D Manager, Somelos, said.
NSF Guideline 533 Expands Certification Offering to Include Ingredients Used in Drinking Water Products
NSF, the leading testing and certification organization in the water industry, is proud to announce the NSF Guideline 533 – Ingredients Used in Drinking Water Products certification program. A listing to NSF Guideline 533 means that a manufacturer’s ingredients have been evaluated for health effects and are safe for use in drinking water products.
NSF has been listing PVC ingredients since the 1980s for PVC pressure pipes but has not expanded to other ingredients than PVC until now. Expanding its PVC ingredient listings will now include ingredients used in other material types, such as CPVC, PE, Nylon, etc., for health effects evaluation only.
“It can be challenging for ingredient suppliers to connect with product manufacturers, especially in foreign markets," said Nasrin Kashefi, Senior Manager of Residential Water at NSF. An NSF listing for manufacturer’s ingredients on NSF’s public website exposes suppliers to hundreds of drinking water product manufacturers worldwide. Additionally, the NSF Guideline 533 certification program provides a listing that allows ingredient manufacturers to market their ingredients as NSF certified, which can help facilitate the listing of their customers products under NSF/ANSI 14, NSF/ANSI/CAN 61.”
NSF Guideline 533 expands NSF’s certification offerings to include ingredients used in drinking water products, further strengthening its commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of drinking water products. Certified ingredient manufacturers can use the dedicated NSF mark to prove that their product is safe as reviewed by a third party.
Manufacturers’ customers can also enjoy simpler NSF approvals for products made with their ingredients,” added Nasrin. “In most cases, no further testing or evaluation is required, which simplifies the process and reduces the cost. For product manufacturers, using NSF-listed ingredients enables quick sourcing of alternative ingredients and increases formulation flexibility.
Competence Center for Decarbonization Minerals – Empowering a More Sustainable Future in Mining
»We do our part to help improve our society’s decarbonization efforts,« says Suresh Raju, who is a metallurgist with two decades of experience. He runs Clariant’s new global Competence Center for Decarbonization Minerals (CCDM) in Dubai. The work he and his fellow chemists and metallurgists are doing for the mining industry can positively impact the world’s mobility transition.
Shaping our way of life
Mining has always been at the heart of progress. After all, it is the source of raw materials for a wide range of industries, from transportation and infrastructure to construction, and even agriculture. The resources humanity extracts from the Earth have, throughout history, helped shape our way of life – from the Bronze Age to our digital Silicon Age. The same will be true for the coming age of decarbonization. That is because most key technologies to lower emissions rely heavily on metals, from rare earths in wind turbines and solar panels to lithium and copper for electric cars and battery storage. To support the energy transition, the mining industry is also focusing on improving its own sustainability practices.
In a 2020 report, the World Bank highlighted 17 commodities that will be essential for the clean energy transition, stating that »a low-carbon future will be very mineral intensive because clean energy technologies need more materials than fossil-fuel-based electricity generation technologies. «According to their estimates, energy technologies alone will use in 2050 close to five times as much graphite, lithium, and cobalt as the world produced in 2018. A greener society will also need significantly more vanadium, indium, nickel, aluminum, and other metals. An electric car alone requires, on average, 60 kg of lithium, 10 kg of cobalt, and more than 80 kg of copper, about six times as much copper as a conventional car.
Less time to learn
With increased urgency comes a quickening demand for these decarbonization minerals: According to an updated report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), »an even faster transition, to hit net-zero globally by 2050 would require six times more mineral inputs in 2040 than used today.
Meanwhile, many mining operations are already dealing with dwindling deposits and decreasing ore grades. The industry needs more efficient ways of providing the world with these important minerals. »The mining industry has spent decades or even centuries improving its extraction processes for the likes of iron and copper,« Suresh explains. »It’s a very different picture for the newly sought-after materials such as cobalt and lithium. Unfortunately, we do not have that kind of time. The necessary ramp-up in production requires the industry to improve and learn much faster.« Clariant and researchers, such as Suresh, are here to help.
At the hub of global mining
Last year Clariant established its Competence Center for Decarbonization Minerals (CCDM) at the Dubai Science Park in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). This laboratory is designed to meet the increasing global demand for efficient solutions to process decarbonization minerals. »We are conveniently located between the continents of Africa, Asia, and Australia,« Suresh explains. The CCDM team’s makeup mirrors its global ambition: Suresh is Indian, his seven fellow scientists are from Europe, Asia, and Africa. That matters. Africa leads the world in mining minerals such as nickel and cobalt. India and the UAE produce a large share of the world’s alumina, and Australia leads the world in hard rock lithium mining.
Suresh and his team receive ore samples from mining operations across the globe, as much as 200 kilograms at a time. Using these samples, the CCDM team sets out to optimize mineral ore recovery rates and reduce waste for each operation. »We have equipment to mirror the customer’s processes, and we even prepare synthetic process water to mimic the conditions on the ground,« Suresh explains. To produce synthetic process water for flotation, ions are added to tap water, so it equals the process water used on site. Requests come from engineering houses working on setting up new mining operations as well as customers trying to improve their running mines. »Getting the process just right requires tailoring many parameters to the specific site and its machinery. And even then, the ore you’re extracting changes every few days,« Suresh says. »Our processing solutions need to be flexible enough to adapt.«
»We have equipment to mirror the customer’s processes, and we even prepare synthetic process water to mimic the conditions on the ground.«
In a recent project, Clariant’s team increased lithium recovery rates by more than 15 percent. Using our expertise in chemical separation, we made wanted lithium minerals hydrophobic and unwanted silicates hydrophilic. »Separating the minerals in the mined material becomes more complicated the more similar they are physically. That is where chemical separation helps,« Suresh explains.
Chemical separation by flotation is one of the key areas of expertise for Clariant Mining Solutions. With our expertise in this process, we support the mining industry by increasing the mineral ore recovery rates and by reducing waste, contributing to a more sustainable future in mining.
