Giving value to mining and chemical waste is the future!
Residual materials from mining and chemical industries contain strategic metals that are just waiting to be valorized. Until now, most of these materials were not considered for recovery, but due to the critical nature of these resources in Europe, they are now seen as high-value deposits. The Innovation Center for Extractive Metallurgy (CIME) of Orano is now capable of capturing these resources. Explanations from Pierre Feydi, Hydrometallurgy Engineer and Coordinator of the European ScaVanger project at CIME.
By-products from the chemical industry are generally treated as final waste. However, their composition suggests they have intrinsic value, doesn’t it?
Absolutely. It’s no secret that processing residues contain valuable by-products. For example, phosphoric acid contains elements such as vanadium and scandium, which are also found in titanium production residues. Red mud, a by-product of aluminum extraction, contains scandium and titanium. There is also uranium in phosphate deposits.
Today, these by-products are treated as waste or sometimes sold as chemical agents for other processes. That’s unfortunate because they hold significant value—especially since many of these elements are listed among the critical raw materials identified at the European level. Moreover, recovering by-products or waste aligns with environmental concerns and the principles of the circular economy.
Given the environmental stakes, recovering these by-products seems like an obvious choice. What makes CIME a key player in this market?
The SEPA and then The Innovation Center for Extractive Metallurgy (CIME) of Orano was founded over 40 years ago as part of the Orano group, building on a long-standing expertise in the development of extraction and purification processes, not only in the mining sector but also in other fields such as agri-food, healthcare, and environmental sciences.
We have state-of-the-art facilities and multidisciplinary teams capable of designing and operating pilot plants. Additionally, we have extensive expertise in hydrometallurgy, specializing in the recovery of strategic metals from processing residues and waste
By focusing on the upcycling of by-products, Orano is also addressing European supply chain security concerns regarding critical raw materials.
How does this process work in practice?
We first validate the chemistry on a small scale in our laboratory, then scale up to pilot projects to confirm the process with larger volumes. Our goal is to find the right sequence of unit operations simplifying the process as much as possible.
Our strength lies in our ability to adapt to the specifications required by our customers. By focusing on the upcycling of by-products, Orano is also addressing European supply chain security concerns regarding critical raw materials.
This also provides an opportunity to diversify into markets with high development potential. Take scandium, for example: it is used in the hydrogen sector for fuel cells, as well as in the aeronotics and automotive industries, where it enables the production of stronger and lighter alloys—ultimately reducing fuel consumption.
Vanadium, on the other hand, is primarily used in metallurgy as an alloying metal in steel and also in batteries, offering a long-lasting solution with high energy efficiency.
On paper, this approach seems promising. But in reality, where do you stand?
We are making significant progress. A key example is our flagship project, ScaVanger, which aims to develop a sustainable scandium production chain in Europe by valorizing co-products from the titanium industry.
The Kronos company has allowed us to use its production by-product, to extract scandium and vanadium before the remaining residue is subsequently valorized. From the 12 cubic meters of material they provided, we extracted 1 kg of purified scandium at 99.9% purity.
We achieved the projects’s objectives. Our expertise extends to supporting the deployment of industrial-scale production units. We are now working on validating the business model with the goal of setting up a demonstration plant at Kronos by 2027, which would have an annual production capacity of several tons of scandium and vanadium.
So, are there real business prospects for the coming years?
The goal? To co-develop the market and gradually increase production capacity. Airbus, which is part of this consortium, is showing strong interest: they have filed patents for scandium applications and are closely following our progress.
Additionally, our presentations on the subject at industry conferences have been very well received, and in 2024, we were honored with the Innovation Award from A3TS (Association for Heat Treatment and Surface Treatment). Things are moving forward rapidly, and we’ve already been approached for another project: EURO-TITAN, which aims to recover titanium from red mud waste generated by aluminum extraction.
CIME is well-positioned to become a leading player in the field of by-product recovery. Our expertise is widely recognized, as is our operational excellence. We are able to both optimize existing processes and develop innovative ones, ensuring that we meet today’s and tomorrow’s industrial needs.
ScaVanger et EURO-TITAN projects are sont co-financing par European Union