Objective Objectives and content This industrial research project is directed at the processing and upgrading of quartz for glass manufacture by the removal of iron, using novel techniques and more particularly by the use of organic acids. The industrial partners are now seeking to consolidate on previous successful work with this project, which will include the operation of continuous process units such that the steps of leaching and effluent treatment can be fully integrated. This will enable the process to be technically assessed particularly for the effects of recycle streams. A number of geologically different deposits, representative of quartz operations throughout the EU, will be evaluated and following the testwork it will be possible to complete a techno-economic evaluation. The work is a logical extension of two previous EU programmes (laboratory testwork - under Contract MA2M-CT90-0014 and focused fundamental studies - under Contract BRE2-CT92-0215) which have demonstrated the feasibility of such a process. Those programmes established that organic acid can be used for the removal of iron to a level which will upgrade the minerals to saleable products, and also demonstrated that the iron/acid/sulphate bearing effluents, resulting from the leach, can be treated using biohydrometallurgical techniques. The development of a leaching process which uses organic acids would offer the opportunity of a cheaper method of removing iron from a high tonnage low cost product. The work will involve: - Geological interpretation of the 3 deposits - Sampling and characterisation - Physical testing - Leaching testwork - Small scale continuous testwork - Effluent treatment testwork - Development of process flowsheets - Design of on-site units - Operation of on-site units - Quality Assurance on products - Study of health and safety aspects - Testwork on utilisation of Fe waste products - Techno-economic evaluation The use of this alternative low cost leaching technique for the removal of iron from high tonnage low cost industrial mineral such as quartz will have a significant impact within the EU. In 1991 the market for quartz for the production of glass was in excess of ECU 20 Billion. These alternative techniques could be of commercial significance within a period of 3 years after completion of this project. The consortium comprises 3 suppliers of industrial minerals (FSS, IND-MIN and EMSA) each with different geological deposits and targeting different markets, a designer and manufacturer of chemical plant (SEICO), a designer and manufacturer of effluent treatment systems (PAQUES), an industrial research laboratory (HCRC), 4 research centres/universities (ITM, UNAQ, ICSTM and NTUA) all of whom worked on the previous two research projects and whose expertise will be invaluable to the industrial partners, and a very experienced specialist in the management of collaborative R&D programmes (MIRO), who managed the two EU Contracts previously referred to. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryorganic acidsengineering and technologymaterials engineering Programme(s) FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0103 - Rational management of raw materials Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Mineral Industry Research Organisation EU contribution No data Address Expert HouseSandford Street WS13 6QA Lichfield United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data Participants (9) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Ente Minerario Sardo Italy EU contribution No data Address Via 29 Novembre 41 09123 Cagliari See on map Total cost No data HELLENIC CEMENT RESEARCH CENTRE LTD. Greece EU contribution No data Address 15,K. Pateli Str. 15 14123 NEA IONIA,ATIKIS See on map Total cost No data IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Prince Consort Road, Royal School of Mines Buildi SW7 2BP LONDON See on map Total cost No data Lava Mining and Quarrying SA Greece EU contribution No data Address 49-51,S. Venizelou 49-51 14123 Lykovrysi See on map Total cost No data NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF ITALY Italy EU contribution No data Address Via Bolognola 7 00138 ROMA See on map Total cost No data NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS Greece EU contribution No data Address Zographou Campus 15780 ATHENS See on map Total cost No data PAQUES BIO SYSTEMS B.V. Netherlands EU contribution No data Address 11-13,T. de Boerstraat 24 8560 AB BALK See on map Total cost No data Seico Srl Italy EU contribution No data Address Via G.A. Badoero 67 00154 Roma See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI - L'AQUILA Italy EU contribution No data Address Monteluco di Roio 67040 L'AQUILA See on map Total cost No data
