Development of Efficient Extraction Technologies to Advance Sustainable Material Circularity

■ Technical Overview

Internationally, the mainstream approach for purifying and producing critical materials is solvent extraction(phosphoric esters)combined with saponification.However, for each ton of critical material oxide produced, approximately 50 tons of wastewater containing ammonia nitrogen and saponification byproducts are generated, which cannot be discharged directly and pose environmental risks.

 

■ Technical Features

Through the design, adjustment, and optimization of extraction conditions, extraction and purification technologies are established. Additionally, the development of highefficiency and environmentally friendly heavy rare earth extractants is implemented. By tuning the functional groups of the extractants based on the extraction reaction structure, as well as adjusting their synthesis and formulation ratios, the extraction efficiency of metal elements is enhanced, while reducing the number of purification stages and wastewater generation.

 

■ Market Applications

 

 

 

 

Development of FactSage Metallurgical Thermodynamic Simulation Technology

■ Technical Overview

In response to the scarcity of high-grade iron ores, the global industry will need to develop secondary mineral sources, resulting in variable ore compositions and increased impurity levels. Through metallurgical thermodynamic simulation technology, the trends of process performance and product composition under changing raw material conditions can be predicted, enabling proactive  management of industrial challenges arising from unstable ore sources.

 

■ Technical Features

In the metallurgical industry, introducing new raw material sources typically requires lengthy and complex production processes before any sample output can be obtained, resulting in substantial investment of R&D funds, manpower, and energy. This technology utilizes the FactSage metallurgical thermodynamic database to simulate the impact of raw material variations on process parameters and predict the evolution trends of microstructural composition.

 

■ Market Applications

Metallurgy of Steel and Slag Design.

 

 

 

 

 

■ Contact Us

Material and Chemical Research Laboratories

Dept. of Purification and Advanced Resource

Circulating Process Design(J300)

 

Hsin-Jumg Lin

Tel:03-5915215

E-mail:hsinjung@itri.org.tw