Utilization of aluminium containing waste streams

This task will involve methods for refining, like controlled solidification three-layer electrolysis of the most contaminated fraction of aluminium scrap after sorting. Moreover, emission-free and energy efficient systems of heating for remelting, like resistance, plasma and microwave heating will be included in the task. The task will also investigate needs for methods of sampling and analysing waste stream and determining necessary quality of the recycled raw materials (PhD 4A and 4B).

Separation of heterogeneous materials

The industry mostly uses virgin raw materials in the current processes while there is still a lot of potential for recycled input, like recycling of SiC in SiC production. By pretreatment through physical separation methods of contaminated raw materials from recycled sources, the overall sustainability of the value chain will increase. There exist several technologies for separation of heterogeneous solid material streams. However, finding the right method and optimizing it is highly dependent on the material stream in question (PhD 4C).

Utilization of industrial waste and by-products

The industry produces large amounts of side streams that have limited use. Spent potlining, anode butts, various carbon materials, sludges, slags, dust, fines, etc. This task will develop methods for characterisation of these materials and explore the necessary upgrading and utilisation of these material into useful products (postdoc).