Project duration: 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2023

Objective

ScaVanger will ensure the steady supply of 100 % Sc, and 2 % Nb and V for the EU to become leader in growing markets. Recoverable resources are contained in liquid acid waste from TiO2 production (1.5 million t/y in EU), but landfilled at 6 M€/100 kt/y. The first plant based on developed hydrometallurgical technologies will produce ScF3 (5 t/y Sc), Nb-concentrate (92 t/y Nb), V-compounds (170 t/y V).

The solution (technology)

ScaVanger will upscale an innovative hydrometallurgical technology for successive Sc, Nb, and V extraction from the TiO2 acid waste solutions. Thus, ScaVanger is setting the foundation for a sustainable supply for the EU of these critical metals (100 % Sc and about 2 % Nb and V demand), while contributing to the EU’s circular economy action plan.

ScaVanger technologies are integrated in the relevant hydrometallurgical production flowsheets of the TiO2 pigment industry to avoid waste transport and to share investments. The waste is cleaned from harmful elements (U, Th), which will be stocked according to EU regulations, before the extraction of the target elements. This newly installed plant will bring several valuable metal products to the market: Sc2O3, ScF3, Nb-concentrates, V-salts and V2O5 essentially for the alloy industries. ScaVanger will also prove that these products fulfill the market quality requirements given by our advisory board, particularly through aluminothermic treatment. The remaining waste is cleaned and can be used for by-product manufacturing (e. g. (Ca(NO3)2, Fe-Mn oxyhydroxides) for solar panels, the medical, electronic and environmental sectors, cement additives and agricultural applications. HCl and waters are reused in the plant.

Partnership

  • Catura Geoproject Geosciences Conseils, France
  • Enalos Research And Development, Greece
  • Meab Chemie Technik GmbH, Germany
  • National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece
  • Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH Aachen), Germany
  • Orano Mining (Lead Partner), France