About us
Objectives
The EURO-Titan project aims to establish a traceable, continuous, low-carbon titanium metal production system in Europe. This innovative approach goes through the development of a low carbon footprint process encompassing:
- Mining and processing wastes specifically bauxite residues (BR) and titanium dioxide production residues (TiR) as feed materials
- Green hydrogen and green electric furnaces to reduce carbon emissions
- AI optimization for energy efficiency
- Process by-product, waste, and water valorization
The initiative will be validated by TU Clausthal and showcase the economic, environmental, and social benefits of its recycling process, ultimately aiming for a sustainable titanium production with a >90% lower carbon emission rate.
Methodology
Although the Kroll process (used in Ti production) has undergone some technological improvement, it nevertheless remains energy and emission-intensive. Hence innovation is required to produce Ti-metal and unlock unconventional, so far unconsidered resources in Europe and worldwide.This, while working toward a low C-emission process. EURO-Titan will therefore focus on waste material: specifically those resulting from the mining and processing of bauxite and TiO2 (BR and TiR) and use them as an initial feed material. These materials will undergo some pretreatment steps and then will be reduced via “green-produced” hydrogen as: H2-direct reduction or H2-plasma (EAF): the energy system will rely on renewables such as wind and solar. The resulting slags will later undergo a hydrometallurgical process (namely leaching, purification, and up-concentration) to recover the Ti. Any metal produced alongside this process as well as waste and wastewater shall be valorized toward building a close loop and eliminating losses.
Responsibility
In the initial phase, the material will undergo some pretreatment (before reduction). After this, the resulting slag undergoes physical treatment, which includes crushing, grinding, and sieving to attain the optimal particle size and phase distribution.
Subsequently, a flotation/hydrometallurgical system will be tested, focusing on selectively leaching Ti under optimum conditions using ultrasound-assisted leaching. The subsequent subtask aims to eliminate impurities from the leach liquor to enhance the purity of Ti in the solution, for this, the development of the ultrasonic spray will be tested. After this, the Ti will be concentrated and the by-products and end products and waste will be valorized.
