It was reported that with the POTASSIAL project supported by the European Union and TÜBİTAK, feldspar waste was recycled into different industrial branches with a zero waste approach.
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The POTASSIAL project was supported under the EU Horizon 2020 ERA-MIN3 2021 Call Programme.
The "Zero Waste Evaluation of Feldspathic Ores: Green and Sustainable Resource Use for Strategic Raw Materials (POTASSIAL)" project, accepted within the scope of the European Union Horizon 2020 ERA-MIN3 2021 Call Program and supported by TÜBİTAK and İnönü University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit, has been completed.
İnönü University Mining Engineering Department Lecturer Prof. Dr. Murat Erdemoğlu told AA correspondent that in the project he coordinated, Fırat and Muğla Sıtkı Koçman universities, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Lulea Technical University in Sweden, Element Six Inc. from England. and ETİ Alüminyum AŞ were also involved.
Erdemoğlu said that during the processing of feldspar from non-metallic industrial mines, a significant amount of waste is left behind by the separation of valuable components.
Stating that mining activities should be continued with a zero waste approach, Erdemoğlu stated that the work they started 4 years ago to utilize potassium feldspar, which has reserves in Malatya and is among the basic raw materials of glass and ceramic production, in different industrial areas, resulted positively.
Erdemoğlu stated that while high value-added raw materials are obtained from potassium feldspar, approximately 700 kilograms of waste is produced from one ton of ore, and that they managed to prevent waste formation by evaluating the different components of the ore with the project.
Emphasizing that the project is carried out in university-industry cooperation, Erdemoğlu said:
"In mining, we have obtained many products with high added value, with zero waste, without creating any solid or liquid waste. Until now, potassium feldspars were only used as additives in the glass and ceramic industry. We turned it into a very useful ore for the production of other raw materials needed by our country and the world. The feasibility of the project was revealed by making both the environmental effects and technical and economic analysis of the products obtained. Especially alumina, potassium chloride and abrasive, which is a very expensive product in the industry. "By obtaining silicon carbide, the economics of the project were revealed."
Raw materials from ore to different industries
Erdemoğlu stated that glass and ceramic products that have completed their useful life are sent to waste sites, and that products that can be used in various industries are obtained by using different components of feldspar ore in the project.
Explaining that potassium chloride is one of the basic raw materials used in fertilizer production, Erdemoğlu noted that alumina is used in the abrasive and sanding industry and aluminum production, and quartz is used in the glass and abrasive industries.
Pointing out that silicon carbide obtained from ore is a high value-added and strategic raw material, Erdemoğlu stated that this product is used in the production of tools used in cutting or abrading hard metals in the steel and metal industry.
Erdemoğlu added that the scientific studies carried out within the scope of the project were published in the ACS Omega journal published by the American Chemical Society.
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Publishment of project results in ACS Omega magazine
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